taking advantage of the system

[angel607]

www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/20/jason-greenslate-food-stamp_n_3960737.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009


the link I posted above is about something I hate. the guy from what I read is 28 years old on food stamps in a bad and said he doesn't have to get a job and laughed it off because free food is awesome. there are homeless people out there more and more nowadays left to suffer in the cold who would love the chance at a better life and to have a job. he says he works 40 hours a week in his band to become rich but he could be in collage making something more of his talent. I think if your healthy and able to work you should have a job like everyone else. this isn't right to allow people to have a free ride while we are out there sometimes working 13 days straight. I know there are people out there suffering barely making ends meet living on food stamps so I don't think we should cut the ones who truly need it but people taking taking advantage of the system they need to be cut off and get a job. what would happen if something went wrong with their health how will they pay with no job or income? you can't look forward to your future surfing on your surfboard watching the people around you live their life and their dreams.

[Phil]

I can really get on my soapbox with this. I have very low respect for food stamp or other government program recipient when its not really a disabled or needy person. I believe nearly half of those people are capable of doing better than this.

Probably half or near half use the system as a living when they could work for their wages like the rest of us.

Next, there's the opinion that government hand outs are free. They are not free, the working tax payers put up the money, and added programs mean higher taxes for our employers and therefore higher deductions removed from the paycheck. It goes hand in hand.

I am not speaking of those who are disabled, that's where humane society needs to help them, I have no problem with that. But for those I am speaking of, going out on the streets and dealing drugs, or just staying home while everybody else is out working. That's no different from being on a job with workers who don't do muck but get paid along with those who push hard to get things done.

[DragonLady]

I had a friend who legit needed it for a disability, and when he went to see about that, he said there must have been a sale on canes and walkers because several people were walking in with them, but when they came out, stashed them in their cars and aparently could walk just perfect. He barely got enough money to squeak by on his food card, while the cheaters lived high off the hog and would go buy steak and lobster tails with the state's money. Their kids, which they have left and right, are usually dressed in Nike and Adidas and such too. I think they should be made to work for the state doing the most unpleasant jobs imaginable to pay off what they've sucked like vampires from it.

[Classicblast]

Sept 24, 2013 3:33:07 GMT -5 DragonLady said:

I had a friend who legit needed it for a disability, and when he went to see about that, he said there must have been a sale on canes and walkers because several people were walking in with them, but when they came out, stashed them in their cars and aparently could walk just perfect. He barely got enough money to squeak by on his food card, while the cheaters lived high off the hog and would go buy steak and lobster tails with the state's money. Their kids, which they have left and right, are usually dressed in Nike and Adidas and such too. I think they should be made to work for the state doing the most unpleasant jobs imaginable to pay off what they've sucked like vampires from it.

I think that's a great idea. Have them work it off doing the unwanted jobs to repay the state. Obviously you're right about another thing those leach type people are taking from the ones who need the help.

[Phil]

Pennsylvania talks a good game. They say that you get a 5 month maximum, consideration of a 5 month extenuation and you're expected to pay it back over time. Its brave talk but they don't enforce it.

[Kimm]

There was a girl on welfare but won the lottery and stayed on welfare I remember that and thats the attitude that is really hurting us into a greedy society. Too many people are after free money. I hardly have any money I have lots of loans to repay and thats going to be the case for a few more years I didnt milk some grants since I had a place to live I could have just taken the grant money and just kept it since I didnt have board to pay but I didnt take what I didnt need.

[Phil]

I remember that too. And when she got caught she unapologetically acted like they didn't cut her funding off so she must have been entitled

[DragonLady]

Sept 25, 2013 13:38:09 GMT -5 Phil said:

Pennsylvania talks a good game. They say that you get a 5 month maximum, consideration of a 5 month extenuation and you're expected to pay it back over time. Its brave talk but they don't enforce it.

I think if they're sitting on their lazy backsides and not looking for work, work should be given to them so they have to earn the state's money to be on it. So they can't take away help for people who really need it. Like someone who's between jobs, they'll have one in the meantime so they can say they've kept busy while looking for something better. I don't know if I can explain the idea good right now. As for disability, it can be hard to prove, especially for one that's not obvious. There are also people who've been labelled unemployable by the state when they are actually not, and they're not happy being on SSI barely squeaking by while others fake it to do what they want.

[Classicblast]

The system is paid for by the working. I do not understand that more people don't realize that nothing happens without taxes and dues covering it.

I played minor league pro baseball and union dues were paid by all of us and yet the union reps would always try to say that ball players had free this and that.

ITS NOT FREE
ITS NOT FREE
ITs NOT FREE

WE PAID FOR IT.
Percentages from each player's salary goes to the players' union and the owners have to match it for each player.

So when I was traded from one team to another they would move me and rent me a car til I'm moved. In my case I am married with children so the boys and Blastgirl didn't move but we may have had I been long term or farther away So in my case they found a small apartment I stayed in during the season and between times I could get to go to home as in where Blastgirl and I live with out kids.

The union did find me an apartment moderately priced and in a good neighborhood and rented me transportation til I could bring one of my vehicles there. So it does serve a purpose but it not a free service that's all I'm trying to explain that seems to be missed by most guys.

[Phil]

That's the whole problem with programs though is people don't recognize or realize that the money comes from somewhere.

Actually the programs we have are in nucleus ways good programs. I like that Social Security is saved for when we reach a certain age it pays you monthly when you become too old to work I like pension plans and 401K plans. I think insurance and workers injury funds are necessary.

What most people don't seem to get is that payroll and companies pay into these funds to make it possible. They know it in theory that when you say that's where the money comes from they know that but they don't really see the impact of it because they're so loose about having it be spent carelessly.

They just figure I think that this is all extra money but fees and collecting of taxes will all increase when more people are on the system

That is why social security age is being raised from 62 to 67. That makes sense. The life expectancy of people has gone up. Men are now expected about 79 and women about 84.

Its not unusual to be 62 today and still have 1 or both parents still living. so there could then be 2 generations on social security. That's not some rare happening its pretty common now.

I'd bet we all know at least 1 person who is over 60 and has living parents. Probably more than that.

So raising the age by 5 years is more than reasonable. Not only are we living longer but the quality of life is better later.

My father died at age 77 and he had had heart bypass about 11 years earlier but he was working on his old cars and tractors until the last day of his life.

He died on January 16, 2011. On January 15, he had been at his place and put a new waterpump, in a 74 Chevrolet convertible. Not all 77 year old men are still doing that.

[Kimm]

If they give out free snickers I might have to sign up for it.

I dont know why more people dont realize that.
My dad owns a business and pays taxes for each employee above and beyond what gets taken from their checks and taxes on licensing and all those things are to fund programs. Some needed some used to take advantage of those who work.

[Phil]

Kimm, since most of us are employees, I think that most people have never had to pay the depth taxes that someone like your dad has to pay. Therefore most of us are unaware of such taxes.

Next I don't think the population as a whole is unaware that tax payers and those who generate more money pay higher taxes bear the brunt of these programs.

the people who actually are unaware that the tax payers pay higher taxes and are strongarmed more heavy by the government are those who have generally never had to work and pay taxes themselves. The left side and the media makes them feel that they're a victim of a cruel society but don't worry we will get those company owners and higher wealth people and make sure they give you what's yours.

[angel607]

the woman who continued receiving public assistance after winning hundreds of thousands of dollars in a Michigan lottery game was found dead in a Detroit. I think it was from a drug overdose but she died at the age of 25. you would think winning the lottery would be a dream come true but for some it can be a nightmare. you come into all that money and instead of saving you just blow through it.

[Classicblast]

Oct 1, 2013 0:00:44 GMT -5 angel607 said:

you come into all that money and instead of saving you just blow through it.

I've seen it a million times with people I knew through baseball.

[Phil]

So what happens now? The government is supposedly shut down.

Of course you know that I am with Penn-York division who is a subsidiary of CSX, CSX operates the Eastern United States, Union Pacific is the partner to the west for over simplification but it could take too long to explain it another way. But no matter how you slice it I am a government employee.

Penn-York is a company that operates independently but CSX regulates them. If CSX wanted to transfer me to another division they could and Penn York couldn't stop them.

Now that could be a major issue but I doubt it.

So far we're all going to work and its business as usual. I'd hate to make a career change at 42, but I wouldn't be afraid of that if that's what it took.

Part of this is the overspending. The well runs dry eventually. There's 2 approaches though. The 1st is to raise taxes like they proposed. When Obama and Biden initially got in power they proposed to raise the national debt ceiling but congress didn't go for it. That's the same as raising the limit on a credit card because its maxed out and this enables more borrowing.

the other way is to spend less.

Lets visit that.

All of us receive a paycheck.
lets say full amount, minus taxes brings net amount, from net amount we all have to buy our own groceries, transportation, housing and utilities, and anything else we need or want comes from out net pay.

But when you're in congress travel is paid for and so is hotel stay. All right I could get that if its job related. Do they need to stay at the Waldorf?

When Penn York sends me to Baltimore, or wherever, I usually use my vehicle unless they have a reason to send me on a work truck. so I keep track of mileage they reimburse me for gas, They will cover the hotel stay not meals they figure you have to eat anyway.

Why can't government officials and congress take that approach?

Make it so they actually have to live on their income.

[Classicblast]

This government thing is suspending the services of some. So far at least the important jobs are still being done. Obviously for the sake of discussion I am loosely using the word important I hope no feathers are ruffled by that.

I am not saying that all people who are out of their job, at least temporarily, because of the shutdown are in positions that are unimportant. I simply mean that it could bring government officials to take a strong look at the necessity of these positions and payrolls.

Obviously some work is going to back up in the absence of people who are laid off with the shutdown but its also an opportunity to find out what jobs could be expendable too.

Thunderbird is the main head of our family business he often points out that leaner times that some people are laid off for a few weeks and he immediately figures out during such times which guys are more expendable.

[Phil]

Its all good that they're going to have an opportunity to see who might be more expendable in a lefthanded way, but veterans are having their checks suspended I don't like that.

I know that the dust will settle and they will get their money.

I really don't like it that the Daily Show host Jon Stewart is out saying things like the Republicans in congress are blaming the President for the hold out 'that's like fart and blame the dog. ' He has liberal society in his camp for that. I can't believe how many people who watch Jon Stewart's daily show and take it as news. I would not have believed such until about a year ago I realized so many of our union members think that watching the Daily Show is news.

That floors me. That's the same as Saturday Night Live's Weekend update. Its a comedy show. Not a newscast.

The same guys in our union were saying a year ago that they felt that Jon Stewart would be a good choice to host a Presidential Debate between Obama and Romney. Really? A news comic? All right I do realize that although a comic he is a man and an American and has his points of view on the news. Meaning that he could have more insight than a comedy show if he wanted to I suppose but not to be taken seriously as a debate moderator.

Would left side America want to see Rush Limbaugh host a debate? I doubt they'd ever allow that.

[Kimm]

Thats the thing is theyre going to one by one shut off services to people until they give in and let them raise their debt limit, spend on what they want and basically get to do whatever they want.

Theyre meeting today to try to resolve this but its kind of a doubtful thing theyd resolve it. Theyre all kind of acting like kids in the playground not getting their way so they refuse to play unless they do.