My Money
February 2, 2012 by admncc
Today I’m going to shamelessly steal on of my blog-friend’s ideas (just for the day of course). Jen over at Hope Studios has a “Feedback Friday” segment which is extremely popular. And I thought one of yesterday’s news stories was a perfect fit for such a segment. So enjoy this one-time edition of “Feedback Friday” here at The Constant Complainer.
I know that everyone has their own opinion of welfare. And this isn’t a knock against those individuals who receive benefits. But over the years, there has been increased scrutiny regarding the payout of these benefits, who should receive them and what the funds can be used for. There has even been talk of drug testing the unemployed and denying benefits for those who do not have high school diplomas.
Interestingly, Congress took action on these thoughts yesterday. They passed H.R. 3657 – “To amend title IV of the Social Security Act to require States to implement policies to prevent assistance under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program from being used in strip clubs, casinos, and liquor stores.”
So basically, those individuals receiving welfare monies would not be able to use their welfare cards to withdrawal funds from an ATM at casinos, strip clubs and liquor establishments. The vote overwhelmingly passed 395-27. My question is…what in the heck took so long!
Some people may argue that we shouldn’t be policing these monies. Others would say that these are taxpayer dollars and we absolutely have every right to dictate where they can be withdrawn and what they can be spent on.
Working in HR, I think my views tend to be skewed. I see people spending more time worrying about trying to collect unemployment benefits than trying to find a job. And I see State systems allowing this behavior and not even enforcing their own stipulations for how people can qualify for any of these types of benefits. And I would easily support drug testing of the unemployed and those on welfare. But the question is…what do you think?
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You took the words out of my mouth, what the heck took them so long?!? I never dreamed you could use cards in these establishments in the first place. So crazy.
I’m more the “hand up” rather than “hand out” type when it comes to this kind of money. Use it when you need a hand up, don’t just sit back and use it as an excuse not to work.
Love Feedback Friday – use it as often as you like! 🙂
I’m ok with some policing of the welfare money but there is a line to where it becomes too much policing. As for drug testing for unemployment, I’m not in favor. If the person qualifies because of their previous employment, then they should receive it.
Better yet, you should be policing how they spend your “bailout” monies. Methinks you guys are getting f….. big time. But, who am I to tell you how to enjoy your sex life. 😉
It was Ben Franklin who said (summarizing) the best way to get people out of poverty is to make poverty uncomfortable. Charity organizations exist to provide welfare. The gov’t needs to stay out of that business completely.
What is the purpose of Government? Anyone? Anyone? The purpose of Government is to provide a public service and help those who cannot help themselves. The Government’s job is serve the people. Hence, the name civil servants!
We live in a Democracy. Implied in the idea of Democracy is the idea that those that CAN will and those that CAN’T will be helped. I would rather have a job (any job) and pay taxes than have no job and collect assistance. The reason why so many benefits are being paid out is because those that want a job CAN’T (these are the can’t people)find a job.
There should be no testing done of any kind. The only test should be if they paid into the system and helped someone else. I they did, they get money. If someone paid into the system and paid someone else’s benefits, they should be helped during there time of need. Its all payback. All of us with jobs should be thankful we still have jobs and gladly hand over money to help the people who don’t have jobs(or lost their jobs) in their time of need. Who are we to decide who gets unemployment benefits or not. NO TESTING! Who cares where Joe Blow spend his unemployed hours.
Maybe they are at the stip clubs to “blow off” (seriously) some steam. I would rather have an unemployed and upset man blow off his steam at a strip club than all over his wife’s face… I am talking domestic violence, perverts!
Zig…the purpose of govt is not to provide a public service. The purpose of gov’t is to provide a level playing field so the players (businesses and customers) can do business.
We do not live in a democracy, we live in a republic. BIG difference.
But since you consider yourself a public servant, go fetch me a beer…servant…
I don’t know that I care where they spend their money. I would think it’s way too hard to police. But it sounds like they think they can restrict it in certain places. And if so, more power to them. I’m more in favor of the drug testing. If you want to receive tax dollars, then you need to be clean. I think that’s a very fair concept. Zig, you need to look at it from the other way around.
Isn’t “providing a level playing field” a public servie, idiot? Next question?
Who fixes the roads? Who issues duties on cheaply made imported items, so other less regulated counties (unscrpulous importers) don’t flood the marketplace with cheap shit that puts American manufacturers out of work? Who makes sure everything that is legally imported is up to certain safety standards? Who stops drug dealers and terrorists from destroying our neighborhoods and our world? Who keeps NCD’s sons ssfe when they walk the streets alone at night? The Government does all these things and many many more Pay your taxes, love your children, kiss your wife and help others!
It all costs money… Helping people in need is a publlic service! The percentage of people receiving assistance who spend their welfare money on drugs is so small that the comment doesn’t even warrant a response! Jane, look at it this way. If you lost your job, through no fault of your own, would you want help? NCD, aren’t you a stay at home father? Isn’t that what you do all day, SERVANT?
…Zig, in a few months the gov’t is going to collapse and your job will no longer exist. I hope you have a second skill beyond being a “public servant” beholden to your corrupt communist union and your traitor-in-chief as “president”
I know FOUR people collecting benefits and using drugs and doing nothing with their lives. I agree 100% that there should be drug testing. I work VERY hard for MY money, why doesn’t someone else? I know there are instances where people really do need the welfare and money to live, but why should I support someone who gets a free apartment because he admits he has a drug problem — but STILL uses drugs, he gets a CELL PHONE, he gets MEDICAID, he gets FOODSTAMPS and he gets money from dealing. It’s not fair, it’s not right and it needs to be stopped!
Also, I want to add a little something. I work at a grocery store and in that grocery store, if there are any close-to-expire items, we donate them. That’s great! I think it’s really cool. However, the woman who runs the organization actually accused us of not giving enough and then said she would send people more often to collect.
Moral of the story: DO NOT BITE THE HAND THAT FEEDS. There is almost nothing more sickening to me than someone who gets help who DEMANDS more. Like the aforementioned habitual drug user.
Actually, Customs and Border Protection (formerly The U.S. Customs Service) is the second leading revenue producing agency behind the IRS. The US Customs Service kept this country afloat during the Civil War. Any Questions? So, while idiots like you argue about not wanting to pay all your taxes (fair share) and belittle my contributions to this country’s welfare (numerous), I just laugh! I am not a Union Member. And the Government will never (can never) collapse! The President, of which you speak, is probably the smartest man we have ever had in that office.
Oh, I can write and think well enough to think and write for the local rag! That way, I will be able to mold the minds of all the uneducated populace of this city. My plan for world domination (and the end of peole like NCD) is to spread my ideas of good and evil to whomever will read my daily column! Or, I can just stop spending money, sell my car, sell my house, stop living my life and have my wife goto work every day! NCD, Be afraid. Now, go get me some milk, SERVANT!
@Angelica It’s like the guy I know on unemployment who drives an Expedition and has a satellite dish. He lives in low-rent housing place and what he draws on unemployment is enough for him. I tell him it’s time for him to contribute and find a job.
Unemployment is one thing…I still think there should be some better limits on it, but welfare is a completely different matter. I think there should be drug testing and all kinds of restrictions. Unfortunately Obama, et al, want to make us a welfare country and keep us all dependent on the gov’ment, so I don’t see any major changes for the better in either case.
Nice little debate you opened up here! 🙂
Zig…
The IRS does not bring in revenue…they steal the taxpayers money through the threat of force. The best part about the upcoming collapse is that the IRS will finally be eliminated.