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maleficent · 08-28-2005, 06:07 AM

anyone who knows me, knows I am a pretty hardcore conservative and have very little tolerance for public assistance programs (I've even argued convincingly that children should not be tax deductions that you should pay a tax for children, and have that tax fund public education -- rather than those who are childless -- but that's another thread)

Public assistance should be just that -- assistance... Not a way of life. Back when I was in my early 20s and living in NYC, barely getting by, I'd go to the grocery store for a box of spaghetti and a can of tomatoes and spend 2 dollars for dinner for 2 nights, and the lady in the fur coat ahead of me was using food stamps with her completely full grocery cart.

I know that not all people work the system, and it can be a help for some but it's really screwed up as it is - and too much needs to be fixed.

In my perfect world where I am King - if a person was having trouble and needed public assistance, fine - no problem, I'm a benevolent ruler, if you have children, you clearly aren't responsible enough to care for them, so I will take custody of them until you prove your worth (OK, Fix Foster care system) then, you will move into Mal's Dormitory, which would be like the dorm I lived n in College, a bed, a desk, a chair and a lamp. No television, no cable, an alarm clock would be your accessory, and some books. While you are living in the dorm, you will be drug tested regularly, you will not be allowed to smoke or drink (if you can't affort your life, you can't afford cigarettes or booze) Once you find a job - perhaps job training will be provided, perhaps not - that seems to be giving people an edge. you will pay back the money that was expended on your housing and training, and you when you are ready to get yur children back, you will pay back the cost of the child care. You have two shots to get it right, if you fail a third time, well then you become soylent green.

OK, so I have an active imagination... The system as it stands right now is broken, but yet we keep throwing more money and more people into it... It's a never ending cycle.

I'm all for human dignity and all, but when a person is on public assistance, I'm not sure that they are entitled to that --a job is a job, you do whatever it takes to support yourself... a person I think, maintains dignity, by doing for themselves and no letting someone else take care of them.

08-28-2005, 06:07 AM	#4 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	anyone who knows me, knows I am a pretty hardcore conservative and have very little tolerance for public assistance programs (I've even argued convincingly that children should not be tax deductions that you should pay a tax for children, and have that tax fund public education -- rather than those who are childless -- but that's another thread) Public assistance should be just that -- assistance... Not a way of life. Back when I was in my early 20s and living in NYC, barely getting by, I'd go to the grocery store for a box of spaghetti and a can of tomatoes and spend 2 dollars for dinner for 2 nights, and the lady in the fur coat ahead of me was using food stamps with her completely full grocery cart. I know that not all people work the system, and it can be a help for some but it's really screwed up as it is - and too much needs to be fixed. In my perfect world where I am King - if a person was having trouble and needed public assistance, fine - no problem, I'm a benevolent ruler, if you have children, you clearly aren't responsible enough to care for them, so I will take custody of them until you prove your worth (OK, Fix Foster care system) then, you will move into Mal's Dormitory, which would be like the dorm I lived n in College, a bed, a desk, a chair and a lamp. No television, no cable, an alarm clock would be your accessory, and some books. While you are living in the dorm, you will be drug tested regularly, you will not be allowed to smoke or drink (if you can't affort your life, you can't afford cigarettes or booze) Once you find a job - perhaps job training will be provided, perhaps not - that seems to be giving people an edge. you will pay back the money that was expended on your housing and training, and you when you are ready to get yur children back, you will pay back the cost of the child care. You have two shots to get it right, if you fail a third time, well then you become soylent green. OK, so I have an active imagination... The system as it stands right now is broken, but yet we keep throwing more money and more people into it... It's a never ending cycle. I'm all for human dignity and all, but when a person is on public assistance, I'm not sure that they are entitled to that --a job is a job, you do whatever it takes to support yourself... a person I think, maintains dignity, by doing for themselves and no letting someone else take care of them. __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.