Wow, what a thread. Okies, here's my $0.02.
I used to be very harsh about Public Assistance recipients as well. Why do I have to support them, didn't want Section 8 housing in my neighborhood (still don't actually, but more on that later). I felt that people had gotten themselves in a bad situation, let them get themselves out, I never asked for help when I was broke, etc.
What changed is my sister and my three very young nephews being left basically homeless, broke, alone and abandoned by her husband/their father, all the way across the country.
It's a very long story, but she managed to get to my home (in California), and get on assistance.
You know, I say this with all respect, honestly, to the folks who "have too much self-respect to accept public assistance" that's great. But when you're a needy single parent, that much self-respect is a luxury one can't afford. And believe me, CA public assistance works real hard to make sure that you don't build up self-respect. As someone earlier said, every single aspect of your life is examined in scrutinizing detail. You have to fill out the same paperwork constantly, and every single blasted month my sister got notices that she was getting immediately cut off because they didn't have her paperwork--they lost it, couldn't find it, but they threatened her and her babies with homelessness and hunger at every turn because they couldn't bother to file paperwork correctly.
Just last month she got yet another notice, and made the trip to the office to re-re-re-re-re-(ad infinatum) submit paperwork--and saw the packet she gave them previously on the worker's desk! She actually pointed it out and handed it to them. No thanks nor apologies for the likes of her, though.
They have failed to repay her for many expenses they were supposed to take care of. She doesn't qualify for gov't housing because she can't pass the credit check (thanks to soon-to-be ex) (yes, at least in CA you have to be able to pass a credit check to get Section 8 housing). Just all kinds of stuff. This is just the tip of the iceburg.
I do suppose one could say that she married poorly, made a bad choice of spouse. Yes she did. Glad that hasn't happened to very many folks (yeah, a light touch of sarcasm here)...but I don't think that should mean that my little nephews should go without housing and food. My nephews who currently have a 90-98% GPA in school (the two older ones, the youngest is too young for school still).
Still and all, she's making the most of her limitied opportunities. Things are looking up. She's grown as a person. She's not yet completely off PA. They live in a terrible section of town (which pains me deeply), and will likely have to move to another state, which means no local family to help out with babysitting. Of course it means I wouldn't get to be with my nephews while they grow up, which is hard, but I also don't want them living in a meth community either...
I've changed too. I have a much clearer view of PA, and of the wide variety of people who depend on it. I do agree it's broken, needs to be fixed. but not only in the ways many here advocate.
Yes, of course there are abuses--because there are people involved. But I wouldn't want to throw the baby out with the bathwater. And I wouldn't want to castigate wholesale those who *really* have no other options.
Be glad you've not been in that position.
Oh yeah, I happen to have Section 8 housing in my neighborhood, and yes, sadly, everyone knows which houses they are, too. I admit, I wouldn't want to live next to that...they don't appear to appreciate what they have, nor take care of it. Can't say that's true for all S-8 recipients. Oh yeah, there's also currently a 4-year waiting list for S-8 vouchers. Oye.
One last note to this long-ass post: Why do we have to support those who cannot support themselves? I think it's part of the cost of enjoying a higher level of civilization, much like free schooling for all citizens. Also it tends to increase the level of civilization over time.