One in seven Americans on Food Stamps

Are we iln trouble, or what?
If this is not socialism, what is it?
I think it is a good thing to take care of our citizens, and social help is needed.
Now to find a way out of our difficulty. I think when we admit we are not so perfect, we will be on the road to recovery.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/12/21/news/economy/food_stamps/index.htm

Seniors are on food stamps. Unemployed are on food stamps. College grads who cannot find jobs are on food stamps. White collar retirees are on food stamps. To qualify, you have to have insufficient income to feed yourself and/or your family. Many military families are on food stamps. Yes, the country is in trouble. The Congress is fignting to win the 2012 election instead of tending to the business of the country.

JOBS. Someone needs to figure out how to create new businesses and support emerging businesses that will provide jobs. In the meantime, the WPA needs to be implemented to fix infrastructure to support new businesses. Unemployed need to participate in the WPA to receive benefits (at least part of the time).

DEBT. Why in the world does anyone receive Social Security and Medicare who does not need it financially? I can't earn over $14,000 this year and $37,000 next and still receive SS. Yet,the wealthy can receive dividends of $millions on their investments and add SS for their "fun money" as I've heard it described.

There is no such thing as a non-profit in the U.S. regardless of how they file with the IRS. In my opinion, everyone needs to pay taxes and figure it into the "non-profit" budget. No exemptions: churches are really businesses. They do not need an exemption. Charities just need donors to add more to the kitty for the taxes.

HEALTHCARE: One universal system for all, medicare included. This hodgepodge of care is costing plenty.

Calling any of this socialism is an insult to socialists everywhere. We're nowhere near socialism. I am way out on the left side of the political spectrum and seeing anyone calling anyone a socialist is laughable on it's face.

To get people off food stamps, a good place to start is a minimum wage indexed to inflation and a single payer health system.

I think we need a national work program like FDR had. Like the timid stimulus that was passed but on a larger scale. There is so much work that needs to be on infrastructure alone we could employ millions who would in turn pay taxes which in turn would keep businesses going and tax revenue flowing.

Cutting the social net and keeping people poor is not sound economic policy.

Give tax breaks to small business, not big business. Support Mom & Pop stores that serve he community they live in. Shun the chain stores that have squeezed out the small guy. Getting the best value for your money is not based on the lowest price.

Affordable healthcare for everyone is a basic human need. To give it a label as something evil reflects on those creating or supporting such labels.

How can a rich person understand the poor unless he/she has been poor? How can the rich who govern provide a just program for the less fortunate? I imagine it is much like a man understanding pregnancy and childbirth, and making rules for the mothers to be.

Still trying to put square pegs in a round hole?

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Seniors are on food stamps. Unemployed are on food stamps. College grads who cannot find jobs are on food stamps. White collar retirees are on food stamps. To qualify, you have to have insufficient income to feed yourself and/or your family. Many military families are on food stamps. Yes, the country is in trouble.

When one out of seven Americans is on food stamps, the country is indeed in trouble, but it's more an indictment on these people's laziness and lack of financial planning than on the economy. Extending unemployment benefits keeps people lazy. Why aren't these people doing the job that supposedly all the illegal aliens are doing?

The military pays a very good wage; in fact, I'd say that lower enlisted are as overpaid as senior officers are underpaid. The military wage was never designed to support a private, his stay-at-home wife and three kids.

LC,

Not all of the unemployed have the option of joining the military. Some are too old.
Many unemployed folks are not lazy. The jobs may not be near them and they don't have money to move.

Alice, I refused to take the bait at first because LC is determined to classify all low income people as deserving of their fate and nothing will change that point of view expressed by LC whether real or stated for the sake of controversy. Many ambitious and talented people are out of work because of the downturn in the economy that lead major corporations to release thousands of people into the unemployed ranks. In addition, new graduates from colleges, technical schools and high schools are attempting to enter the work force when the unemployment rate is 1/4 the population in some states such as Michigan where they are the only state in the nation with a net population loss. Small businesses are boarding up. Houses are empty as people walk away from under water loans. Many people don't quality for unemployment. Many of the unemployed are over 50 years of age and not chosen for reemployment because benefits for people over 50 years of age are costly, both workmen's comp and health benefits; in some cases, double a younger worker. Creative people who would start new enterprises either can't get funding or are afraid to take the risk. These are difficult times that require a creative, energized and innovative government, not a callous perspective but one that creates jobs such as the ideas expressed in other threads: support for start-up and new and expanding small businesses; federal and state "make work" projects to improve infrastructure while paying the unemployed; universal health care that brings up the health of the nation and lowers long-term costs for preventable diseases; charge taxes to the churches and non-profits; eliminate Social Security Insurance for the wealthy who don't need it (it was designed as a policy against the poor house anyway); charge social security taxes without income cut offs - so long as a person works, the taxes are paid on every dollar earned; require universal "service" following high school graduation whether military or in the service of the needs of U.S. citizens on U.S. soil or abroad; change the career political service of Senators and Congressman to two-term limits and then the potential of returning after a hiatus living like a normal human being; limit campaign expenditures so an ordinary, bright person can serve in Congress without being a millionaire; limit the number of lawyers if possible and write laws in layman's terms; turn the non-violent out of prisons and into service to the nation to make restitution for their wrongs not destroy their minds at the expense of the citizens they've already harmed and stop funding prison cages except for criminally insane or those posing a life threatening danger to others; find some school systems that are doing the job right and model the country after them instead of a patchwork quilt of hit and miss education that's failing all but those who would muddle through without a school; have assistant teachers with high school and two-year educations so expensive four-year teachers may be spread thinner; reward improved student performance based on where each student begins and to where they progress, individually. Eliminate tenure in the public school system and everywhere else if possible; promote based on performance; ... that's all the brainstorming for today.

12/23/2010


DK....

I agree with you 1000% , those who make over the cap
of what Social Security takes in taxes should pay more, if your
very wealthy I don't think you need the Social Security. I do
believe a very large percentage of Congressmen are very wealthy
and they should give back their salary to the govt., as for us 60
something year olds yes to LC we deserve our Social Security I
have worked for over 44 years and Yes I deserve it ! As for LC's
arrogant attitude she should be more compassionate towards
people who are un-employed, I have read more horror stories of
people 55 and older who can't find a job, I believe it's age
discrimination, those 62 and over are now accepting their Social
Security the only income they have. I've read that it's going to take
another 3-5 years for this country to straighten out, I do believe
the un-employment in Jan.,2011 will jump to 10-10.5 % which will be
a shocker, many retail stores will lay off people, but the catch is
they'll have only worked 3-4 months and they can't file, just another
catch 22, retailers are not stupid..

Cheers..Joe

Well, Joe, you and I are singing the same song again. You are right about the unemployment figures inflated at the moment by temporary service industry jobs, especially in the "hot" and "retirement" states like Florida where the population swells in the winter months.

I forgot to add that those hiring are hiring part time workers with no benefits at minimum wage; the first to go and without enough quarters to qualify for unemployment.

Also, people forced into their early retirement at 62 will draw less money the rest of their lives when they were capable for working until their retirement age and willing to do so.

12/23/2010


DK....

Your a lady after my heart ...No matter what age you are
companies today are finding ways and excuses to get rid of employees,
so they can save a buck ! I can give you a great example: When I
worked for Kohl's the store was a bare shell, they hired over 100 people
to help set up the store, when the store was finally finished and the
grand opening was way over there were less than 40 people. They have
a MO, you cut people's hours, if a part-timer was suppose to get 24
hours, they get cut to 10 hours and this went on and on until the
part-timers quit, that's what they wanted, the part-timers felt like
they were slapped in the face and who can live on 10 hours a week?
We had about 12 full timers, I was cut from 40 hours to 32 hours ! And
yet the higher ups assistant Mgrs., etc. were never touched. So it
makes me laugh when I see an ad for them " Grand Opening," and 100's
of people show up for a job, little do they know they'll be out of a job
in less than three months. I was in the one where I used to work and
found out they finally fired two women who were assist. Mgrs. and
they were worse than witches ! One person asked me wouldn't you
like to come back ? I said: Are you out of your mind ! I don't miss it,
especially getting up at 3:00 AM to be there at 4:00 AM before they
opened at 5:00 AM, I read this year they opened at 3:00 AM for
Black Friday ! So I know the horrors of retail and don't miss it.So I
feel sorry for these people who get suckered into thinking they have
a permanent job and in reality they don't....

Cheers..Joe

I was invited to interview for a position as an admissions counselor. When I arrived, I learned that I was one of 220 applications that had been winnowed down for the "group interview" of 35 people for two positions. We were given a tour and then gathered around a large board room table to look at each other and see who had the youth and vitality they were looking for but wasn't evident in the aps. That was the purpose of the "group interview" - to look and compare everyone. They asked everyone the same two questions and spent a lot of time with three candidates who had worked for the company in other states. It was obvious that the rest of us were there as "just in case," not as viable candidates.

I cannot change my age. The form itself required a birth date for a background search. Those lucky people with tenure; they were the "smart" ones. Maybe in the next life -

Life is so unfair. You are obviously not lazy! LC can take note of that fact. I also think you are too old for the military, Thank you for proving my point. I hope you get a good job though.

LC,

I must add: These lazy folks who should do the work the illegals are doing, would not be hired. Why? Overquaified.

How about that? I would wager if you were to lose your situation, you could not get this kiind of a job. I would not call you lazy.

12/23/2010

Check out a town called " Wilmington, Ohio"
Almost half the 12,000 people are out of work
Because a company called DHL ( similar to FedEx)
Closed, it's almost like 1929 all over again, 40% of
the un-employed go to food banks....

Cheers..Joe

"more an indictment on these people's laziness and lack of financial planning than on the economy" definitely not a quote from D. K. Christi -

Dear LC,
I love your in the face perspective.

People are, sadly, not all the pidgeon hole that fits the pidgeon. That is because humans are all unique, come into this foray as children and grow to adults with different perspectives, talents, family money, prejudices, ways and means and loves and hates. Living is not simple because no person is an island. Sorry about that one. But it is true. You can stand there, in your youth, and you are not just there, you are covered with everyone , past and future, all at once. It is a bit much.

Love,
Betty

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Not all of the unemployed have the option of joining the military. Some are too old.

I didn't mean people should join the military. I responded to one item on DK's list of all the people on food stamps. I think she was implying that that list means the economy is in the toilet. Except the lower-enlisted military wage was never designed to support families, who are the ones eligible for food stamps. Neither are McDonad's, Walmart, Kohl's, and other such part-time worker wages. Those are teen jobs, pin-money-for-moms jobs. That some people attempt to use those part-time jobs to support a family and then need food stamps is not an indictment on those employers or the economy, it's a statement on the people working there.

And yes, they often have to show up at early hours to open the store. What's the problem? Why is this a "horror?" Lots of people get up at early hours to commute or otherwise work their job. It's called doing what you have to do to make a living. If the illegals can work long hours in farm fields (which, btw, is bullshit, less than 3% of them are employed in agriculture now, they're working the same well-paying jobs everyone else is), a Kohl's employee can get up at 3 to help the store prosper.

As for this:

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turn the non-violent out of prisons and into service to the nation to make restitution for their wrongs

Non-violent offenders cause just as much damage as violent ones. Burglarers, ID thieves, drug dealers and fraudsters chip away at our security and quality of life. Sweeping the streets for community service hardly makes up for their damage.

Re Social Security. I never said anyone who contributed isn't entitled to it. That includes the "wealthy." If they put in, they're entitled to pull it back out as much as Joe is, and spend it in a Vegas casino or wherever else they want. Confiscating it from them to give it to the lazy and indolent just makes the lazy and indolent even more so.

LC,

Who are the "lazy and indolent?" I know of a few unemployed folks-- none of then are in the lazy or indolent cztegory.

Just curious!

Alice, I can't name them specifically, but with one in seven on food stamps, I'd probably count every fourth, fifth and sixth among them.

I've heard of people with Masters Degrees working at McDonalds because they couldn't find any other job. Some people will do anything to support their families. I've been there.
Waiting for the right job or one that is socially acceptable is not always possible. A father or mother will even steal to feed their children. Society will label them theves. Unless one has walked in their shoes, they should not condemm.
Survival brings out the worst and best in people. When society offers help, i.e., foodstamps, those who take them are condemmed by some and given labels.
The nasty thoughts I sometimes have are directed to those who have no idea of what it means to be hungry/poor. I secretly wish they will experience/suffer to gain undersanding. At the same time, I don't like to see suffering and hope that people can avoid it.

I've been rich and I've been poor. Rich is obviously better, however poor is humbling and a valuable learning experience. I don't believe that true compassion can come from book learning. There are theories about many things that often remain a theory until/unless experienced.

At this time of year, many reach out to those less fortunate. The gift of love is more valuable than any material gift. Feeding the body is important, but feeding the soul is also nourishing.
Mahatma Ghanda said that people are not receptive to spiritual things when they have an empty stomach.

Often we read commentary by the haves who manipulate words to condemm those less fortunate and stamp them with labels in an effort to deprive them of the crumbs they receive from charity or from governmental assistance.
On another thread I read, "what goes around, comes around." I believe that what you put out, comes back, perhaps the same meaning as the former. If that be true, then the cliche, "every dog will have his day" may be some form of recompense.

Abe,

LC wrote:

Alice, I can't name them specifically, but with one in seven on food stamps, I'd probably count every fourth, fifth and sixth among them.

Nearly half of them-- perhaps you should work for the govt as a motivator!

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I've heard of people with Masters Degrees working at McDonalds because they couldn't find any other job

So what? What were their Masters degrees in? Clearly nothing useful. Many people have the belief that if they have a college degree they're entitled to a high paying job. Except that many college degrees are worthless. What would you pay someone with a degree in Chicano Studies? Women's Studies? African American Studies? These people are the ones who fight for the scarce jobs in a company's or campus's Office of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. When our Chinese overlords take over, they will find out how truly worthless they are.

Music, psychology, medieval literature -all more examples of degrees that lead the holder to very little. Also, many people won't move to where a job opening for them is. They want to stay by their family. Understandable, but still their problem.

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Often we read commentary by the haves who manipulate words to condemm those less fortunate and stamp them with labels in an effort to deprive them of the crumbs they receive from charity or from governmental assistance.

BTW, I don't consider people who spend decades in government housing and years receiving TANF, Medicaid, food stamps and other aid as "crumbs." Anywhere else Darwinism would have taken over.

LC,

Watch Scrooge.

LC,

I have a relative. He has a degree--an appropriate one. He is an engineer. He has worked and was laid off a year ago. He is over 50.
What should he do?