Welfare Fraud

[uscitizen]

Go back to commodities where we actually give them food. Why route the money thru the retail grocery merchants.

That would be socialism and an attack on the stores and free market....

Not an attack, just a bypass.
It allows you to get more to the desired end user with less middle men/beaucracy getting a slilce.

Should you be able to give something to your neighbor, or should you have to have a store sell it to them and skim a service charge?

 

[☭proletarian☭]

I'm just telling you what the Right would say- that it's socialism and an attack on the free market.

Welfare should be handled by the States, and receipt of services should be available only so long as you're participating in an approved work/employment program and/or education program/school.

In Ca, I saw a shelter right next to a center where people got 2 hot meals a day and a bag lunch, a free clinic, free haircuts, bus passes....


The problem was that they weren't required to be drug free (crack was rampant), there was no real limit to how long you could stay at the shelter or receive services at the center next door, and they did nothing to help people prepare for or find gainful employment. People got comfortable and many stayed there for years- literally- receiving services at the centre and alternating between the shelter and staying under a bridge.

With all the handouts and no responsibility, they had no reason to change.


Back in my hometown, I found a very different program. You had to show up every day at 7AM. They gave you 2 suits and you had to wear them, have your shoes shined, and be presentable. They taught you how to fill out an application and resume' so as to best represent yourself, taught people how to field questions about their criminal records and unemployment, if applicable, and required documentation proving you were actively searching for work- not just dropping off applications, but calling to find out when the mgr would be in, then going in and speaking directly to the mgr.

During this time, they helped you find an emergency shelter and connected you to resources where you could get food (not the greatest, but edible and nutritious), as well as helping you seek aid through food stamps. Upon completion of the program, depending on your performance, they would send you to a program that helped you find an apartment and, once you find a job and keep it for a bit with no sign you're going to lose it, they'd help cover move-in costs and, depending on the program you were referred to, sometimes even help you get a few pots and pans and a bed.

Then it was on you to keep everything you'd been working all this time to achieve.


those who were too lazy or not determined to change never made it 2 weeks, dropping out because they didn't want to dress nicely and actively look for a real job- they never received anything more than information and a sack lunch. Those who were really intending to change things found everything they needed to help them improve their conditions- not just a bunch of handouts, like the failure I saw in california, but a hand up.

 

[Charles Stucker]

Those who were really intending to change things found everything they needed to help them improve their conditions- not just a bunch of handouts, like the failure I saw in california, but a hand up.

That is where we should be as a nation, Tanstafl.
But the Democrats would scream bloody murder if their vote buying welfare programs were cut off.

 

[chanel]

"Like most people in my country, I have a job. I work, they pay me. I pay my taxes and the government distributes my taxes as it sees fit. In order to get that paycheck in my case, I am required to pass a random urine test (with which I have no problem). What I do have a problem with is the distribution of my taxes to people who don't have to pass a urine test.

So, here is my Question: Shouldn't one have to pass a urine test to get a welfare check because I have to pass one to earn it for them? Please understand, I have no problem with helping people get back on their feet.. I do, on the other hand, have a problem with helping someone sitting on their ass - doing drugs, while I work. . . . Can you imagine how much money each state would save if people had to pass a urine test to get a public assistance check?"
Author unknown

I guess we could title that program, 'Urine or You're Out.'

I would love to see a required perodic urine test on all of congress and ALL elected offcials and their staff.
You know if they are a druggie they can be blackmailed by the commies about it.

And yes Jay I think all mothers recieving dependent child care dollars should have to pass perodic drug tests. For the safety of the children, which we are now paying for so the mother gives up some rights if she wants the money.

You're starting to grow on me Comrade.

That's why I get so upset when people talk about legalizing drugs. I would love to know how many people are on "permanent disability" because of a substance abuse problem. And of course, their kids get SSI as well. Even more expensive than welfare. Social Security is going broke I hear.

 

[uscitizen]

A hand up was what the WPA era projects were about.
And to improve our infrastructure as well.

The WPA era costs have been recouped many times over by the benefits we continue to get from them.

 

[Charles Stucker]

A hand up was what the WPA era projects were about.
And to improve our infrastructure as well.

The WPA era costs have been recouped many times over by the benefits we continue to get from them.

If only we hadn't been saddled with Socialist Security at the same time.
Oh wait the Democrats in Congress blocked Hoover's attempts to start a WPA style program before FDR came to office. Just so they could get the credit with FDR; too bad about the working stiffs, they could just suffer.
And have socialism as well.

 

[uscitizen]

Neither party in congress or the WH have had the balls to try and modify social security so it would last. Reagan and other patched it by raising the contributions or the eligability age. But none had the balls to try anything that would last.
And both of them happially spent the surplus on other things.

Those are the facts on SS reform.

 

[Big Black Dog]

Neither party in congress or the WH have had the balls to try and modify social security so it would last. Reagan and other patched it by raising the contributions or the eligability age. But none had the balls to try anything that would last.
And both of them happially spent the surplus on other things.

Those are the facts on SS reform.

That is exactly correct. The only thing wrong with Social Security these days is not the amount that is being paid to it's benefactors or the amount that people are paying into Social Security. The government, in it's typical dumb ass nature, spent the money on other things instead of Social Security. They robbed the piggy bank and now don't have the money to pay out as it was intended to be done. To try and cover their stupidity, they are trying to sell us on the notion that it's "our fault" and not THEIR FAULT that the program is the way it is now. Like everything in Washington, it's always somebody else's fault. Congress is to blame for Social Security being in the condition it is in right now. Not your fault or my fault. Congress is to blame.

 

[Charles Stucker]

Neither party in congress or the WH have had the balls to try and modify social security so it would last. Reagan and other patched it by raising the contributions or the eligability age. But none had the balls to try anything that would last.
And both of them happially spent the surplus on other things.

Those are the facts on SS reform.

Perhaps what is needed is an overwhelming Republican control, one which can eliminate Social Security altogether. If they do then the entire country would benefit.
Except for the Democrats, but they inflicted SS, Medicare and Welfare on us, so they can return to just benefiting like normal citizens.

 

[uscitizen]

Neither party in congress or the WH have had the balls to try and modify social security so it would last. Reagan and other patched it by raising the contributions or the eligability age. But none had the balls to try anything that would last.
And both of them happially spent the surplus on other things.

Those are the facts on SS reform.

Perhaps what is needed is an overwhelming Republican control, one which can eliminate Social Security altogether. If they do then the entire country would benefit.
Except for the Democrats, but they inflicted SS, Medicare and Welfare on us, so they can return to just benefiting like normal citizens.

Heck that might bring on gerietratic suicide bombers.

make note to self about possible business opportunities...

 

[AllieBaba]

Here is an honest to God welfare story for you. When I lived in California, because I was stationed there in the Navy, there was a young lady in our apartment complex that my wife at the time became good friends with. She was on welfare. She was single and had a child and pregnant with another. She married the father of the unborn child shortly before it's birth and they moved to Ohio. About 60 days later, this same young girl returned (without the new husband) and was living in the same apartment that she moved out of. When my wife went over to visit her and find out why she was back in California so quickly, she told my wife she came back because California had such a good welfare system it was better for her to live there. True story. Pretty sad, huh?

That happens all the time.

I will say, ERRORS cause more money to be lost than fraud, in my opinion. We do see scams here and there, but we lose a lot more money when workers issue incorrectly (it happens all the time, believe me...it's a complicated system. Really complicated), or figure income in correctly, or code incorrectly. Or when clients lie about their living situations. Most common...man and woman living together (as in TOGETHER) but claim they're just friends and maintain their food stores separately, and therefore one files for benefits and the partner's income isn't counted. However, that amounts to a pittance in most of these cases. One person with no income gets a max of $200 per month in fs in Oregon. Two people, if one brings in say $200 of unemployment a week, get maybe $232. They'd actually get more if they filed together, but they don't do it because they're afraid the income will reduce their fs allotment...or because they're in a volatile relationship and one of the parties wants her own benefits so if she leaves she doesn't have to get a new card, file a change report, etc. and so on.

The ones who REALLY rape the system are those who claim they have members living in their households who aren't really living there...and by doing so get that person's SSI checks and foodstamps. These people are usually grandmas! They'll have their grandkids for a while, get set up as their authorized rep, get their checks...and when the kids move out or move in with their folks or whatever, granny keeps receiving the checks.

 

[Luissa]

Only one person? Well, thank goodness for that. I do not mean denying KIDS food; I mean finding a better way before we flush more money away. I'd like to see "communal food markets" where only basics can be purchased. Do you support people using cash assistance for booze and acrylic nails Jillian? Because rumor is that's more than one person.

You do realize that food stamps are one of the best ways to stimulate the economy?

 

[Modbert]

yeah, let people starve because one person plays the system (AND GETS CAUGHT.. d'uh).

More overreaction from Chanel, consider this standard procedure.

Though for the record, her "cut off the arm to stop the itchy feeling" thinking is a bit much.

 

[AllieBaba]

Food stamps account for a fraction of the money spent on welfare. It's the medical that's the killer....

 

[Luissa]

Food stamps account for a fraction of the money spent on welfare. It's the medical that's the killer....

God forbid we provide medical for children, the elderly, and the disabled.

 

[Modbert]

God forbid we provide medical for children, the elderly, and the disabled.

To quote from our savior Jesus Christ when someone crawled to him for healing, "LOL PREXISTING CONDITION."

 

[Luissa]

God forbid we provide medical for children, the elderly, and the disabled.

To quote from our savior Jesus Christ when someone crawled to him for healing, "LOL PREXISTING CONDITION."

Right now if I got health insurance through my work, there is no way they would cover my son. Luckly in Washington State he can get state insurance.

 

[Modbert]

Right now if I got health insurance through my work, there is no way they would cover my son. Luckly in Washington State he can get state insurance.

But your case is just a rarity, just like the other tens of millions cases that are mere rarities.

 

[Luissa]

Right now if I got health insurance through my work, there is no way they would cover my son. Luckly in Washington State he can get state insurance.

But your case is just a rarity, just like the other tens of millions cases that are mere rarities.

I really like it when I see on the news where a Cop who was shot in the line duty, now has to raise money for on going treatments.

 

[chanel]

I would also suggest publishing the names of those on public assistance. There are many, many people working under the table while collecting government cheese. It's theft and needs to be prosecuted.

If I were a cynical person (snarc mark), I might think that those who are opposed to reform are either thieves themselves, or simply partisan hacks who understand that increasing the welfare rolls ensures that a certain party stays in power. And if that were true, it is despicable.