Welfare more accepted

[hart]

NYT: Food stamps find new acceptance - The New York Times- msnbc.com

What are your feelings.

My background, growing up we had family members that I was always told had "babies to get more welfare." And seeing those relatives, it was readily apparent they really were living on the system, with little or no effort to change their circumstances.

When my mother and dad divorced, my mother was award $100/mo. She did not work, she had severe health problems and was able to get SSI, eventually.

In the short term, she did get food stamps. I, at age 11, told her I would not go into a store with her if she used them. I would wait for her outside (she didn't drive) but I would not be seen with foodstamps. Aw the certainty of age 11.

So I have had a prejudice against them for decades. And society seemed to get it too, the last few years. But, as people were denied benefits, or given a deadline, they were forced into low paying jobs and sometimes, really couldn't put food on the table AND pay rent AND transportation, etc. Many had to go to foodbank regularly.

Now, with this economy more and more business accept food stamps. The government even gives them what looks like a charge card to use discreetly and I KNOW more are in need.

So I have mixed feelings, due to my early prejudice......what do YOU think?

 

[Pabst]

NYT: Food stamps find new acceptance - The New York Times- msnbc.com

What are your feelings.

My background, growing up we had family members that I was always told had "babies to get more welfare." And seeing those relatives, it was readily apparent they really were living on the system, with little or no effort to change their circumstances.

When my mother and dad divorced, my mother was award $100/mo. She did not work, she had severe health problems and was able to get SSI, eventually.

In the short term, she did get food stamps. I, at age 11, told her I would not go into a store with her if she used them. I would wait for her outside (she didn't drive) but I would not be seen with foodstamps. Aw the certainty of age 11.

So I have had a prejudice against them for decades. And society seemed to get it too, the last few years. But, as people were denied benefits, or given a deadline, they were forced into low paying jobs and sometimes, really couldn't put food on the table AND pay rent AND transportation, etc. Many had to go to foodbank regularly.

Now, with this economy more and more business accept food stamps. The government even gives them what looks like a charge card to use discreetly and I KNOW more are in need.

So I have mixed feelings, due to my early prejudice......what do YOU think?

my grandparents lived in government housing when my mom and uncle were quite little. if my grandfather hadn't seen being on government assistance as embarrassing i probably would have grown up in the projects instead of living in a nice quiet suburban neighborhood.

government assistance is one thing, people need help sometimes and that's ok but who decides when that ends and it becomes just being a ******? that is always argued greatly.

there should be a sense of shame with welfare on a personal level and there should be little acceptance of it from others. not none, just not much. we should want to not be on welfare and we should want others to not be on welfare. of course that's where community spirit comes in to play and people give to churches so they can help those people out.

more acceptance shows more people believe in entitlements and expecting the government to do more requiring more tax dollars. i dont even like asking to borrow 5 bucks from a person, i couldnt do welfare unless i was starving. some people make it their life's work.

 

[hart]

Sounds like we share the same feelings on this issue......Thanx for your input!

 

[JanieDough]

When my mother and dad divorced, my mother was award $100/mo. She did not work, she had severe health problems and was able to get SSI, eventually.

In the short term, she did get food stamps. I, at age 11, told her I would not go into a store with her if she used them. I would wait for her outside (she didn't drive) but I would not be seen with foodstamps. Aw the certainty of age 11.

Same situation here - my mom has been disabled for years, and my dad is wealthy (but not generous ) and he used to speak out against welfare and how people were lazy.

But then you had my mom scraping together two pennies to pay rent - and then she had to figure out how to feed us.

However, I never EVER dared tell my mom I was too proud to go in the store with her. She was put in a bad situation too.

Aren't you a little ashamed to have treated your mother that way knowing she was sick and couldn't help it?

 

[hart]

However, I never EVER dared tell my mom I was too proud to go in the store with her. She was put in a bad situation too.

Aren't you a little ashamed to have treated your mother that way knowing she was sick and couldn't help it?

Hon, I was 11. I had been brought up with both my mother and father badmouthing anyone on Welfare. There are a lot of things I regret and feel bad with about my mom, mostly whilest a teen, but that aint one of them.....

 

[JanieDough]

Hon, I was 11. I had been brought up with both my mother and father badmouthing anyone on Welfare. There are a lot of things I regret and feel bad with about my mom, mostly whilest a teen, but that aint one of them.....

I gotcha. I would just feel bad.

I say this not to shame you - but to share my view on foodstamps - that they are a necessary thing sometimes and that there shouldn't be shame in it - that's what we pay taxes for.

So one day when something happens to us the gov't assistance programs are there for us.

That's the meaning I hold on to despite the stories of abuse of the system, etc.

I think people who put a stigmata on it are really taking digs at the pride of people like our moms, and it's a shame. Because our mom's didn't ask to be put in that situation.

 

[Accountable]

My mom had to go on foodstamps when I was about 10 or 11. My sister is raising her special needs daughter alone and has gov't assistance. Gov't assistance is necessary nowadays because once it started, people figured the gov't would take care of things and stopped seeing Help Thy Neighbor as a responsibility.

When the gov't started taking over as a charity organization it permanently and severely damaged the best part of our culture.

 

[Meirionnydd]

my grandparents lived in government housing when my mom and uncle were quite little. if my grandfather hadn't seen being on government assistance as embarrassing i probably would have grown up in the projects instead of living in a nice quiet suburban neighborhood.

government assistance is one thing, people need help sometimes and that's ok but who decides when that ends and it becomes just being a ******? that is always argued greatly.

more acceptance shows more people believe in entitlements and expecting the government to do more requiring more tax dollars. i dont even like asking to borrow 5 bucks from a person, i couldnt do welfare unless i was starving. some people make it their life's work.

A very small minority of individuals actually abuse the welfare system for monetary gain. Despite this unfounded conception amongst individuals that all people who are on welfare are somehow lazy bludgers who contribute nothing to society, there are actually people who are greatly helped by welfare. Any society with regard to social mobility, social justice and egalitarianism should have a strong social safety net in place.

there should be a sense of shame with welfare on a personal level and there should be little acceptance of it from others. not none, just not much. we should want to not be on welfare and we should want others to not be on welfare. of course that's where community spirit comes in to play and people give to churches so they can help those people out.

A society relying solely on charity to take care of the disadvantaged is impracticable, the concept of 'welfare' encompasses much more than just monetary payment to what some may generalize to be 'lazy' individuals. It also includes social programs, health care benefits and the construction of public works to serve disadvantaged communities. Something much out of the scope

Social services and community welfare costs the Australian Government about $108,000,000,000 dollars a year. I highly doubt any church or charity is willing to pick up that tab.

I don't think anyone receiving welfare payments should feel ashamed of themselves either. My grandfather fought in the Second World War and helped defend Australia from, what then seemed like an immanent Japanese invasion; so why should he feel ashamed if he receives a pension and other benefits when he is older? After sacrificing so much for his country, shouldn't he (and others like him) get something in return?

The same applies to other individuals and groups in society. It would be almost downright impossible for most rural students in Australia to receive a tertiary education if it was not for government assistance that allowed them to move to metro areas and attend university.

 

[hart]

I don't equate receiving a pension and other benefits for service your country, with welfare.

I do agree there are many individuals who would not be able to survive without welfare. And I don't believe in ANY child going hungry.

But, to iterate, what I was exposed to were several individuals, having kids, never marrying, because then it's MUCH harder to get welfare, and feeling this was a WAY OF LIFE. That was what I was exposed to growing up. Hence my believes then, now I realize that was the exception not the norm. But it is hard for me, and others who experienced the same exposure, to change our feelings....not impossible, or I wouldn't have started this thread

 

[Laure]

I know somebody who actually said to me once, "Oh, I don't mind being pregnant again. My foodstamps will go up." This was when she was 25, and just found out she was having baby number 5. People like this should be cut from the program completely and made to support themselves for a while. She's never worked a day in her life. Her career is having babies so the state will give her more money. It's sickening.

That said, however, I also know a lot of people who bust their ass everyday to make ends meet and wouldn't quite make it if not for that little extra help they get every month. The programs are there for a reason, and when they are utilized by people who truly deserve them, they're great.

If not for the state medical program, I would have been ruined financially by the $12,000 bill I got when my son did this to his arm a couple years ago:

 

[Accountable]

A very small minority of individuals actually abuse the welfare system for monetary gain.

That may be true, but I don't think there's a reliable way to verify that opinion.

Social services and community welfare costs the Australian Government about $108,000,000,000 dollars a year. I highly doubt any church or charity is willing to pick up that tab.

I highly doubt the tab would be that high if someone outside of gov't were to pick it up.

My grandfather fought in the Second World War and helped defend Australia from, what then seemed like an immanent Japanese invasion; so why should he feel ashamed if he receives a pension and other benefits when he is older? After sacrificing so much for his country, shouldn't he (and others like him) get something in return?

Your nation sees veteran's benefits the same as welfare?

 

[MoonOwl]

I don't find anything wrong w/giving someone a helping hand if hard times fall on them. It can happen to any of us.

When it becomes a career-choice I have a problem w/it.

I also have a big attitude about those that buy soda and candy w/food stamps. That isn't 'food'. Treats for the kids are one thing, but I rarely see these mom's buying treats for their kids. It's crap for them. Then again, if soda and candy are ok in the government's eyes to be on the list, who am I to complain? Tho, I rang up a woman the other day that tried to use her food stamps for popcorn and it declined it. ????????????? Candy & Soda is ok but popcorn is not?:wtf:

I could go off on conspiracy theories about that one.....

 

[Accountable]

I guess Kraft has a stronger lobby than Orville Redenbacher

 

[Jessica]

my mother used food stamps

 

[hart]

my mother used food stamps

And? How did you feel about it? That's what this post is about, so spill....

 

[JanieDough]

And? How did you feel about it? That's what this post is about, so spill....

jessica likes to be short and long winded all in the same thread...:24: