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tinfoil · 08-01-2003, 04:03 PM

I had to live on welfare for a couple of months. I had just graduated but was unable to find a job that required I move into a large city (something I can't do and still keep my sanity.) It is a depressing and degrading thing, to live off of other people's money. I finally packed up and moved back home where I stumbled into a great job.

It is a valid system, but it is not without it's flaws. First of all, welfare has a tendancy to send people into a downward spiral. I know this for fact because I have lived it and seen it in others. The longer you are on welfare, the less self-esteem you have, the more depressed you get. That depression makes it difficult to get out there and find something else.

Yes, I know, the pitiful amount that one recieves when on welfare should be drive enough, but that will just as often hurt as it does help.

I also know about welfare cases. It disgusts me to see people abusing a system meant to help people. It happens far to often. They get their free hand-out and are content with that. Content with living on $20 a day for food, rent and other expenses. Often they resort to crime to add some extra cash. Workfare is one of the greatest ideas because it forces long-time welfare cases to work terrible jobs in harsh conditions to get their monthly allowance. What we need is a system in which people can report other people abusing the system. Give a reward as well, and we will have welfare cases turning in other welfare cases out of greed. We certainly can't cut off their welfare because that would only lead to other problems. I haven't thought of a punishment yet to help deter abuse.

When administered properly, welfare is a tool to help people who need help. If it weren't for the people abusing it, the stigma wouldn't necessarily be attached to it and it wouldn't lead to the downward spiral that causes many welfare cases. There would also be a bit more money available to those that truely need it. Welfare should be able to feed people a half-decent meal, not KD and tuna every night.

Workfare has helped weed out some of the welfare cases who would rather work in McDonalds than in the sun picking up garbage on the side of the road, but it hasn't done enough. We, unfortunatly, need to police the system, to check up on the people who have been on welfare for years and years. It needs to be inconvenient and degrading for those that abuse it.

Please note, I am speaking about the Canadian welfare system. I have no knowledge of the American system. My first hand experience of the system was roughly five years ago, second hand experience is current.

08-01-2003, 04:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
tinfoil Fucking Hostile Location: Springford, ON, Canada	I had to live on welfare for a couple of months. I had just graduated but was unable to find a job that required I move into a large city (something I can't do and still keep my sanity.) It is a depressing and degrading thing, to live off of other people's money. I finally packed up and moved back home where I stumbled into a great job. It is a valid system, but it is not without it's flaws. First of all, welfare has a tendancy to send people into a downward spiral. I know this for fact because I have lived it and seen it in others. The longer you are on welfare, the less self-esteem you have, the more depressed you get. That depression makes it difficult to get out there and find something else. Yes, I know, the pitiful amount that one recieves when on welfare should be drive enough, but that will just as often hurt as it does help. I also know about welfare cases. It disgusts me to see people abusing a system meant to help people. It happens far to often. They get their free hand-out and are content with that. Content with living on $20 a day for food, rent and other expenses. Often they resort to crime to add some extra cash. Workfare is one of the greatest ideas because it forces long-time welfare cases to work terrible jobs in harsh conditions to get their monthly allowance. What we need is a system in which people can report other people abusing the system. Give a reward as well, and we will have welfare cases turning in other welfare cases out of greed. We certainly can't cut off their welfare because that would only lead to other problems. I haven't thought of a punishment yet to help deter abuse. When administered properly, welfare is a tool to help people who need help. If it weren't for the people abusing it, the stigma wouldn't necessarily be attached to it and it wouldn't lead to the downward spiral that causes many welfare cases. There would also be a bit more money available to those that truely need it. Welfare should be able to feed people a half-decent meal, not KD and tuna every night. Workfare has helped weed out some of the welfare cases who would rather work in McDonalds than in the sun picking up garbage on the side of the road, but it hasn't done enough. We, unfortunatly, need to police the system, to check up on the people who have been on welfare for years and years. It needs to be inconvenient and degrading for those that abuse it. Please note, I am speaking about the Canadian welfare system. I have no knowledge of the American system. My first hand experience of the system was roughly five years ago, second hand experience is current. __________________ Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.