View Full Version : Food Stamp Nation
ArlJim78
10-08-2010, 10:31 AM
Good column by Pat Buchanan (http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=39333).
"The lessons of history ... show conclusively that continued dependence upon relief induces a spiritual and moral disintegration fundamentally destructive to the national fiber. To dole out relief in this way is to administer a narcotic, a subtle destroyer of the human spirit."
These searing words about Depression-era welfare are from Franklin Roosevelt's 1935 State of the Union Address. FDR feared this self-reliant people might come to depend permanently upon government for the necessities of their daily lives. Like narcotics, such a dependency would destroy the fiber and spirit of the nation.
What brings his words to mind is news that 41.8 million Americans are on food stamps, and the White House estimates 43 million will soon be getting food stamps every month.
We've gone from Roosevelt's warning to modern times when the esteemed speaker of the house says that food stamps and unemployment checks provide the best bang for the buck in terms of getting the economy moving.
In the column Buchanan notes that in 1964 the food stamp program was intended for roughly 350,000 people at a cost of $75 million, and look where we are now, over 40 million people receiving food stamps at a cost of over $56 billion dollars.
When are people going to realize that government handouts are what detroys our society, and government that welfare programs actually exacerbate the problems they were intended to solve?
boxcar
10-08-2010, 12:01 PM
Hey...free food, free housing, free health care! America is finally arriving to the Land of Utopianville. The only thing I demand now is my right to free clothing.
Boxcar
P.S. Then later on...free luxury items. :jump: :jump:
alytim
10-08-2010, 12:23 PM
Hey...free food, free housing, free health care! America is finally arriving to the Land of Utopianville. The only thing I demand now is my right to free clothing.
Boxcar
P.S. Then later on...free luxury items. :jump: :jump:
No excuse to postpone the lobotomy now.:lol:
boxcar
10-08-2010, 12:43 PM
No excuse to postpone the lobotomy now.:lol:
You're absolutely right! Couldn't agree with your more. All the socialist pols in DC need one. And I betcha the vast majority of taxpayers would be willing and very happy to foot the bill for the procedures. Another freebie! :lol: :lol:
Boxcar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgOHOHKBEqE&feature=related
Ray Stevens got it right.
wes
PaceAdvantage
10-09-2010, 10:32 PM
No excuse to postpone the lobotomy now.:lol:That was awesome. You really are one of our top contributors.
Shame you don't post more often.
boxcar
10-09-2010, 10:38 PM
That was awesome. You really are one of our top contributors.
Shame you don't post more often.
Hey, alytim, don't believe PA for a second. He's pulling your leg. His post was code for...don't let the door hit ya on the way out. :D
Boxcar
BlueShoe
10-10-2010, 01:26 AM
Extended unemployment checks is another arm of the socialist monster. When a person can collect for 99 weeks or whatever it is, the incentive to look for work is usually dulled. There are guys at the otb site I usually attend that are on unemployment and have had the nerve to actually boast that they are being paid to go to the races every day. Slow burn, urge to kill.:mad:
NJ Stinks
10-10-2010, 02:17 AM
I guess I should to be envious of those lucky people on food stamps and unemployment benefits. :rolleyes:
Sometimes I wonder if we live on the same planet.
PaceAdvantage
10-10-2010, 04:01 AM
Hey, alytim, don't believe PA for a second. He's pulling your leg. His post was code for...don't let the door hit ya on the way out. :D
BoxcarWell, not exactly.
MONEY
10-10-2010, 10:05 AM
I guess I should to be envious of those lucky people on food stamps and unemployment benefits. :rolleyes:
Sometimes I wonder if we live on the same planet.
My nephew rents his houses out to families on welfare.
One family of nine "husband, wife & seven children" get $1,500 hundred for rent, plus $4,000 in cash, food stamps & medicaid. They own a late model van and of course the adults are here illegally.
fast4522
10-10-2010, 11:52 AM
Why do we as a people need this shit.
alytim
10-10-2010, 12:13 PM
That was awesome. You really are one of our top contributors.
Shame you don't post more often.
I was only suggesting a remedy for the misery that consumes Boxcar. I did't intend to violate the pecking order. Please accept my humble apology, or unleash the hounds, just do what is best for your franchise
boxcar
10-10-2010, 12:30 PM
I guess I should to be envious of those lucky people on food stamps and unemployment benefits. :rolleyes:
Sometimes I wonder if we live on the same planet.
I would think there's already enough envy being spread around -- probably by quite a few people on the dole who want more and more and more...
And, btw, there are "welfare" recipients living pretty high on the hog. They can afford to gamble in casinos. They can go on cruises, etc. Some of them really know how to game the system.
Boxcar
boxcar
10-10-2010, 12:33 PM
I was only suggesting a remedy for the misery that consumes Boxcar. I did't intend to violate the pecking order. Please accept my humble apology, or unleash the hounds, just do what is best for your franchise
The only time I'm "miserable" is before I have my first cup of coffee. Other than that, life is good....in spite of people like yourself. :D
Boxcar
There is a huge difference between those on unemployment and those who have been professionally unemployed for generations.
The left never seems to be able to see that.
jognlope
10-10-2010, 10:26 PM
I'm surrounded by them. When I confronted a woman in social services about why they weren't putting these people into training or jobs or getting them off the welfare rolls, she said "write your congressman." I bust my but to pay rent and utilities, never have enough for food, well I can lose a few pounds on this system, but it's not the best way. Every other person in my building, is on SSI or welfare or whatever they do, with HUD paying for most of their rent. Did you know you can get paid to be a drunk or drug abuser? Yeah NY state will pay for your living expenses, because after you finish the alcohol and drugs you're "disabled for life" and NYS will pay for that. This guy who was here for a couple months, used to hit me up for food all the time, which I don't mind, I love feeding people and would like to start a fancy soup kitchen one day, bragged about how he's moving to Albany "and my rent will be only $80." He has a lot of energy, but I guess he gave up. Or is just a professional welfare recipient as the path of least resistance. This mess was buffeted by the annoying profession of social workers, because the therapists and social workers have to have everybody, from drug abusers to who knows what fall into a diagnosis, that produces their income and keeps up their life style, as they provide therapy.
PaceAdvantage
10-11-2010, 12:01 AM
I was only suggesting a remedy for the misery that consumes Boxcar. I did't intend to violate the pecking order. Please accept my humble apology, or unleash the hounds, just do what is best for your franchiseI love talk like this. You really are talented, did you know that?
Hey...free food, free housing, free health care! America is finally arriving to the Land of Utopianville. The only thing I demand now is my right to free clothing.
Boxcar
P.S. Then later on...free luxury items. :jump: :jump:Gee box, did you try out for this commercial?
<object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nj4uBwpimjg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nj4uBwpimjg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>
fast4522
10-13-2010, 05:40 AM
Gee box, did you try out for this commercial?
<object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nj4uBwpimjg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nj4uBwpimjg&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object>
You guys are pathetic, did that video get you a few laughs with your joints & booze? Funny now but soon to be crying time for you liberals, do fries go with that shake fools.
jognlope
10-13-2010, 08:16 AM
Well if you saw the way they operate, like it's a game, you'd be as sick as Boxcar. Not that they can't be inspired or re-brainwashed to actually want to contribute to the working world, if programs were actually offered to them, and maybe they just pretend to be noncaring, cocky ne-er do wells (spelling), but it's sickening when you work and you're paying for them. "Relocation vouchers" (the heck away from here) are needed.
Like the man said, "I've been unemployed so long, I forgot what kind of work I'm out of!"
Black Ruby
10-13-2010, 12:40 PM
Okay, I'm no thrilled about paying able people not to work, but what's your solution. If a fourth of the 43 million are working-age adults, and unemployment's at 10% now, where are you going to come up with enough jobs to employ at least 10 million people? If you put that many people in the workforce, isn't the supply likely to drive down wage rates? Since these people already have money and many are unlikely to earn more than they're getting now, you're not adding to the flow of money in the economy, you're not creating new customers. If you cut the benefits, isn't there going to be a sizable percentage of those people who'll turn to crime, meaning we'll need to pay for more police and equipment for them, more courts and court personnel, and more prisons and prison personnel?
jognlope
10-13-2010, 01:32 PM
At least they do turn over all their benefits back into the economy so I guess we're paying for economic growth. No there aren't any jobs they done gone to China because they cost about 1/20 as much per laborer.
Interesting points. I agree with some, to a degree.
But I see some problems, too. Some are already turning to crime.
We need to find a way for those people to earn their welfare, and to restrict how they use it.
This requires some pondering.....I like a post like this....beats the hell out of ".....you NITWIT!" :D
Mike at A+
10-13-2010, 02:52 PM
They should also drug test people on welfare just like they do for most jobs. But I doubt Obama would like that as most of his base would get nailed.
johnhannibalsmith
10-13-2010, 03:43 PM
Here's what bothers me: the attitude that the "system" is responsible for your decisions. In other words, if "the system" condones it or allows for it, then it is necessarily prudent or ethical. And this applies to a lot of things lately, obviously, but the ingrained philosophy that using the system in a way that is possible and perhaps permitted, but clearly not the way in which it was intended, is becoming tiresome.
I'm spending more time on this board again (much to my pleasure) because my work season is over. May to September. I pay into everything, including the slush fund for unemployment. I have countless people in awe that I never try to file for unemployment benefits in September when work runs out. "You pay in!" Well, that is true, I suppose. But, more to the point - I'm unemployed, mainly, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO WORK very hard this time of year. I squirrel away my money and live off of it for the year and repeat. I'm sure I COULD go work all year if I wanted to or needed to, but I don't.
And I have people literally madder than hell at me for not applying and letting some "mepsikan" take my money.
This is what is wrong with entitlement programs - if everybody gets what they pay in, it doesn't work. If they don't get what they pay in, they get aggravated over time, feel like they're being fleeced. It's not really a fault in the concept itself per se, it's an overestimation, or perhaps a misjudgement of people and their tendencies.
I think its what is wrong with medical insurance and why hippie communes didn't ever seem to catch on... it defies the intrinsic nature of people, in general I guess... we are taught to respect money and reality by developing a work ethic, hopefully we are also taught to have compassion and samaritanism (is that a word?).
I think most people like to work and be self-sustaining and offer benevolence however they can. Some don't, for sure. But, vey, very, very few like to work hard and have their benevolence mandated, particularly when it seems that their "benevolence money" is being misdirected. And one fellow's misdirected is another man's worthy cause, so it isn't specifically a conservative/liberal divide - the issue that is - the expenditures may be.
There should be assistance programs in my opinion and I know perfection is an unattainable goal, but clearly we can do much better at sustaining those that are not self-sustainable and transitioning those that are self-sustainable into contributors rather than extending the perch of sustainment.
ArlJim78
10-13-2010, 05:16 PM
I had a similar story from last year. Our company had a couple of periods where they shutdown for a few days, or even a week. We were technically eligible to file with the state and collect uneployment for those days. People did it and collected the money, but I wasn't comfortable with it. Everyone was saying hey go ahead, you've paid in. I didn't though, it didn't seem right. I knew I was only going to be off for say four days, I didn't consider myself out of work and didn't want to go to the state hat in hand to collect some money just because I could. I guess I feel that programs like that should be used only as a last resort, by people that really need it to get by.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRKOmAPejNQ
Welfare
wes
jognlope
10-15-2010, 10:01 AM
Well I'm going to buy for two weeks when I get my paycheck next week, no more in and out of grocery store with a few items. It's not the way to lose weight!! (I just overcompensate when I get paid) I just hate paying $100 for food. I'm living in the 70s when a can of Campbell soup was 17 cents and a gallon of gas was 75 cents. And the electric company wasn't asking us to pay for their early plush retirement packages.
jballscalls
10-15-2010, 10:35 AM
Here in Oregon instead of actual food stamps we have whats called an "Oregon Trail Card" debit card. A good liberal friend of mine on Facebook yesterday posted that she was in line at the super market and saw a guy getting two filet mignon's and a beautiful lobster tail at the checkout. She said she thought "wow what a delicious meal that will be" then she said he pulled out his oregon trail card and she said she just about flipped out. She said "i'm working my butt off to make ends meet and have to eat ramen, while this guy's eating filets and lobster tails sitting on his duff??"
the best part was another lib friend of ours commented "well maybe it was his anniversary or a special night or something" LOL
Bettowin
10-15-2010, 12:56 PM
Just saw a TV commercial telling welfare recipients there is a program to get free cell phones. All they have to do is apply.
WTF??
jognlope
10-15-2010, 01:07 PM
Well food stamps is one program that is worth it, good nutrition helps people, but why not open it up to the working poor? It would be a lot worthier than some of the other wasteful projects. Right now you have to make $1,300 or less in NY to get them. Or a food stamp program that gives a 50% discount on healthy foods.
Right now, Food Stamps is a corrupted program that probably buys more booze and drugs than food. Good in theory, failed in practice by...wait for it.....Democrats! :D
A fair, effective, program the really helps people is possible, but unlikely.
Helping people who need it has never been a priority of government, either party.
JustRalph
10-15-2010, 04:07 PM
Johnhanniabal........apply for the bennies and send me the money
I am looking for a job in the Baltimore area........ I think I am gonna need the assistance............ :bang: can you give a guy a break..... :lol:
johnhannibalsmith
10-15-2010, 04:13 PM
Johnhanniabal........apply for the bennies and send me the money
Don't laugh... one of the three (imposing) brothers grimm basically tried to bully me into doing just that... laf... okay laugh...
bigmack
10-15-2010, 04:24 PM
It would be a lot worthier than some of the other wasteful projects.
This grammatic atrocity has been brought to you by the new, Wheat Thin Stix.
u8frN7OQPPg
JustRalph
10-15-2010, 05:34 PM
Johnhanniabal........apply for the bennies and send me the money
I am looking for a job in the Baltimore area........ I think I am gonna need the assistance............ :bang: can you give a guy a break..... :lol:
Don't laugh... one of the three (imposing) brothers grimm basically tried to bully me into doing just that... laf... okay laugh...
Actually I was making a stupid joke, using an obscure reference that only I would probably get....such is my twisted mind......but I understand your point also....... which actually goes right back on topic considering the thread.
OntheRail
10-18-2010, 01:22 PM
Just saw a TV commercial telling welfare recipients there is a program to get free cell phones. All they have to do is apply.
WTF??
Yep free for them and another fee added to our bill to pay for it. Really gets old... I pay for mine and theirs. :bang:
I'll stop how or I'll be pissed off all day.
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