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what is your definition of *poor*?

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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 10:02 AM
  #31  
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That's the type of thinking and mindset that has to be changed!

We used to be the country of success stories, now we are the nation of it's not my fault!
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 10:05 AM
  #32  
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Craigers said: "According to your description, he should be a lifer on welfare"

Craigers, would you be so kind as to point out where I said that people who are lazy are entitled to a life on welfare? I do recall stating that some people can't find work (as they are disadvantaged by verious factors) and most recently used someone who is disabled as an example. But I can't seem to find where I have advocated for the lazy, and would be grateful if you could point that out to me.

What interests me is that everyone seems to assume that the only reason that someone would be on welfare is because they are lazy. Not so long ago, the unemployment rate where I live was over 10%. Surprisingly enough, when the economy improved, the unemployment rate went down correspondingly. If laziness explained the high unemployment, that jobless rate would not have changed with the improving economy.
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 10:10 AM
  #33  
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I think that many of us, and unfortunately myself included, see welfare as a group of people who won't rather than can't. The system has made their lives decent, and with no work required. I have not trouble helping those who want to help themselves! Revamp the system, and make them WANT to do better and have better and be better!
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 10:15 AM
  #34  
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Originally Posted by RBC3,Jan 14 2008, 11:10 AM
I think that many of us, and unfortunately myself included, see welfare as a group of people who won't rather than can't. The system has made their lives decent, and with no work required. I have not trouble helping those who want to help themselves! Revamp the system, and make them WANT to do better and have better and be better!
Are you suggesting values education? Where would you do such a thing?
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 10:27 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by zeiss,Jan 14 2008, 11:05 AM
Craigers said: "According to your description, he should be a lifer on welfare"

Craigers, would you be so kind as to point out where I said that people who are lazy are entitled to a life on welfare? I do recall stating that some people can't find work (as they are disadvantaged by verious factors) and most recently used someone who is disabled as an example. But I can't seem to find where I have advocated for the lazy, and would be grateful if you could point that out to me.

What interests me is that everyone seems to assume that the only reason that someone would be on welfare is because they are lazy. Not so long ago, the unemployment rate where I live was over 10%. Surprisingly enough, when the economy improved, the unemployment rate went down correspondingly. If laziness explained the high unemployment, that jobless rate would not have changed with the improving economy.
I never said you thought lazy people should get welfare for life. Nowhere did I state that the only reason why someone is on welfare is because they are lazy. I did say that according to the examples you gave, my father would qualify for welfare.

I was responding to your statement of "I wish that the people who resent paying to support others through their taxes..." explaining why I don't enjoy getting my taxes removed. I believe many people abuse the system.

And don't get me wrong, charity is a great thing. My wife and I gave away more money this holiday season than we spent on ourselves. But I enjoy my charity because I know the person who gets the money needs the money. I can't say the same for the federal gov.
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 10:48 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by 8D_In_Trunk,Jan 14 2008, 01:15 PM
Are you suggesting values education? Where would you do such a thing?
It always has to start at home.
Then it goes into social settings.
It shouldn't be frowned upon to make people feel bad for abusing the system.
The system needs to be overhauled and fine tuned.
Better tracking and assement of needs and assistance given!
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 11:05 AM
  #37  
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Originally Posted by Scot,Jan 13 2008, 05:52 AM
cut from a Hillary Clinton Blog -


I am all for helping actual poor people, but i am now wondering if anyone knows who they really are?

Everyone who has had heating assistance that I have been around (my tenants and friends tenants) have all turned their heat way up and walk around in shorts all winter - it's free, so who cares!!! .

would a poor person drink Heineken? Have bling tones? have a car with a remote starter and start their cars 5-10 minutes before leaving...who the hell wants to get into a cold car? - i could go on forever....

where are the actual poor people who could use the help?
the people that are poor come from 3rd world countries. Poor people in america just dont have the luxuries that others have. When i was starting out living in the so called "ghetto" the people seem to always have money to drink and do drugs and party all night. Only America you can see an obese "poor person" America has alot of aid and oppurnities. And i view poor as in not havning the basic neccesities in life like food, clothing, shelter, etc.
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 11:31 AM
  #38  
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There is a serious level of laziness in the population resulting in abuse of financial support systems.

Slightly off-topic, but related: I am a corporate recruiter and I deal primarily with higher-level technical searches. From time to time I will pick up lower-level search from a long term client, resulting in interaction with different types of people than I am most accustomed. In the past 3 years I have had no less than 10 people turn down positions that were offered to them because Employment Insurance was covering them until they got a new job, and for what amounted to an extra couple dollars a day they preferred to sit around and do absolutely nothing.

People are so open and comfortable with their laziness that they actually told me the reasons why they didn't want the jobs. At first I felt that I shouldn't report them to EI, but on second thought I did because they are seriously abusing a system intended to catch you when you fall and pick you back up, as opposed to catching you, rolling you over, and massaging you back.

I am terribly financially irresponsible. That said, if I saw myself in a position where I were actually in over my head and facing an inability to pay bills, or worse, looking at bankruptcy, then I'd sell the S in a heartbeat and be completely back on my feet. If I could bring myself to do it now I'd be debt free this year. I just can't do it but you won't see me down at the welfare office to make sure I can afford that new front lip
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 11:52 AM
  #39  
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Congrats to you for having the moral fiber to report them!
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Old Jan 14, 2008 | 12:03 PM
  #40  
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" the people that are poor come from 3rd world countries. Poor people in america just dont have the luxuries that others have. "

Less than $303 a month for three people in the U.S. is poor. This isn't a matter of not having luxuries. This is a matter of not having money for food and shelter. Where can you live in the U.S. on less than $101 a person a month? That's $1,012 a year. I'd like to see someone live on that annual salary for a month, let alone try to survive for a year on that amount. Or is there some place in the U.S. where the cost of living is so fantastically low that one could live on that?
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