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Posted: 3/16/2006 3:56:46 AM EDT
[#1]
What do you think Pro-Lifer's are doing?  FORCING people to have kids. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 4:05:35 AM EDT
[#2]
Well for me....my rants go towards people who abuse the system. Not against people who need it just till they can get thier shit together. Myself I can and have gotten by without food stamps or other goverment programs. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 4:13:53 AM EDT
[#3]
Sure, why not? I've dumped somewhere north of a quarter of a million dollars into the government's gaping maw in the form of taxes. The Social inSecurity taxes alone would have bought me a house, and by the time I retire, there's no way in hell I'll see more than a fraction of what I put in. Why in the world would I feel guilty about getting some smidgen of that money back?
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Posted: 3/16/2006 4:18:15 AM EDT
[#4]
When I was in college, I was what you might call "poor". Meaning, I didn't have any money. So, I go to the store to buy a pound of bologna and a loaf of bread, which was about half of my diet back then! I have to say, it never even occured to me to apply for food stamps. I just don't think that way.
So, I'm in line, and I can't help but look at the chick in front of me... Ralph Lauren shirt and shorts, expensive loafers, gold watch and bracelet, gold necklace, diamond earrings... On the counter she throws 4 thick New York strips, 2 pints of Ben & Jerry's, and a two liter of soda. Out come the food stamps!!!! She takes her stuff, goes out and gets in a brand freaking new Camary and drives off. That still pisses me off, 10+ years later. It was a college town, so obviously she was a student with no discernable income, excpet Mommy and Daddy. I don't understand how someone from a wealthy family even thinks about food stamps? I would dumpster dive before I would walk into some government office and ask for a hand out. And what the hell is up with those government credit cards? It helps reduce the 'stigma' of food stamps? WTF? If you are on food stamps, you should be ashamed. Do I want your kids to starve? No. Do I want you to be ashamed that you are not able to feed them yourself because you are a POS? Yes. Maybe if you are ashamed enough, you will get off your ASS and look for a job. Even another job, if necessary. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 4:24:34 AM EDT
[#5]
Hell No
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Posted: 3/16/2006 4:28:08 AM EDT
[#6]
I'm on foodstamps. Yes, I am ashamed. I even hate the whole card swiping thing. Maybe I am a POS, but Ihave four kids who are not. And they're dad is. I can't work two jobs and pay the rent and daycare at the same time until I go to school. These things happen. I totally didn't plan my whole life to get foodstamps. I've paid taxes. That's what they're for. I do think the state gives us too much. I mean really, we've never eaten this good. My freezer is stuffed. And it's not all those convienece foods. I cook dammit. It's full of meat and vegetables. All you holier than thous need to back off and thank God that you aren't in this position right now. I bet most of you would run to the state as soon as you stub your toe. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 4:47:10 AM EDT
[#7]
The next question is, "would you stay on food stamps even if you could get off?"
I would take the assistance if needed and get off as soon as possible. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 5:15:54 AM EDT
[#8]
As a tax professional, my job is to make sure clients pay only their fair share.
I will never advocate abusing the system, and think there is a special place in Hell for that. But, I feel it is our patriotic duty to use the system as it is inteneded. Really, how many of you add an extra $1000 to your tax return because you think the federal goverment could really use the extra money. --- And I really like goverment cheese too. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 5:37:48 AM EDT
[#9]
When my first husband left me I had no choice but to go on assistance. It was humiliating for me but I survived. I hope to hell I never have to go through that again, but I'm glad it was there when I needed it.
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Posted: 3/16/2006 5:42:36 AM EDT
[#10]
You are paying for people who are currently on the program. Should you go on them, you will be funded by people who are paying taxes while you are using food stamps. It is welfare pure and simple. (Just like social security...) I don't have a problem with a social safety net. There is nothing wrong with providing some help for people who need help temorarily because we cannot just let them starve in the street. My beef comes with those who turn the safety net into a hammock from which they cannot be moved. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 5:47:57 AM EDT
[#11]
Odds are if you are capable of feeling humiliation over taking a handout, then you are not the type of person that worries me. It is the people who walk up to you with their hand out and demand that you fund their entire existence that I have a problem with. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 5:52:33 AM EDT
[#12]
Till you see your children crying because they are hungry one should be quiet on the subject. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 5:53:20 AM EDT
[#13]
+1 |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 5:59:19 AM EDT
[#14]
I've been paying for them for the last 39 years.
If I needed food, ______________________________  |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 6:18:53 AM EDT
[#15]
Okay, for all of you saying "never", "hell no", or "they are for illegal immigrants and lazy people" I would like to congratulate you on leading a charmed life where nothing has ever gotten so bad you have tomake a choice between your kids eating and having a roof to sleep under. I was working 60-70 hours a week and the wife was working as much as she could also. We did borrow money and take what help we could from family, and always, always paid them back. But when your hard earned dollar don't go far enough, well it just don't and that, kids, is fucking that.
We did food stamps for a few years until we got our shit together and it was a real life saver. Even when we were doing it, we could see massive opportunity for abuse, and we would mention these things to our workers. You want to find a group less motivated than the Post Office? Go deal with these guys. If it came to that same point of desperation again, I'd use them again. It'd suck. It'd be embaraasing (again). And it'd be depressing (again). But, the family wouldn't starve. Litterally. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 6:19:58 AM EDT
[#16]
Have none of you guys have ever heard of private charity?!?!? If you are really down and out and you are working 16 hours a day at McDonalds and you still can’t feed your kids, than I am sure that there are plenty of private and volunatary charities out there that would be glad to help you out. This is percesly why volunatary private charities were created, as far as I’m concerned there is no reason for anyone to justify becoming a welfare queen. There are plenty of organizations out there that are willing to help people who are genuinely having hard times, you don’t need the governments stolen tax dollars.
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Posted: 3/16/2006 6:21:47 AM EDT
[#17]
There is nothing wrong with taking advantage of a program intended for helping those in need, as long as the need is legitimate. I would take them if I need them. Hell, I've paid my fair share for them. But I'm getting back on my feet ASAP.
The problem is that a lot of people "need" them because they are too lazy to work, decide to have 10 babies, and don't want to do anything that might stop the flow of freebies. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 6:23:15 AM EDT
[#18]
Yes. In fact, I contribute significant ammounts of my income to private charities every year.
Personally I prefer private charities to public dollars any day. But that isn't the system we have. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 6:32:07 AM EDT
[#19]
Couple things to add to my first post.
-private Charity/organizations: Yes! Used those too, but there were not enough of them or enough help from them in our area to feed a family on a regular basis. That is a cold, hard, hungry, fact. -I paid my taxes before we used them. I paid my taxes while we used them. It's my tax money funding the thing and you can't put pride on a plate for dinner. Fact. This was all years and years ago. Since then, we have become quite succesfully middle/upper middle class. Don't presume to lecture people who have lived with hunger about the things they "could look into" or "should do" if you haven't personally walked that road. If you do, you are talking out of your ass and those of us who have had to make the really tough choices can smell it a mile away. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 6:33:40 AM EDT
[#20]
And with that attitude that is the way it will remain. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 9:12:13 AM EDT
[#21]
Yes as the wellbeing of children is involved. I however would not be on any longer than necessary to get back on my feet. I am 36 and have never drawn unemployment as I have always been able to find work quickly. That said I don't discount the fact that one day I may have to.
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Posted: 3/16/2006 9:13:58 AM EDT
[#22]
Sure but only to help bankrupt the program. I hate food stamps and the people who use them. Where I live they always have nicer clothes and cars than me, and for some reason buy all sorts of expensive and/or junk food with their "Independence Card" as it is called here. I'd issue one bag of potatos a week to anyone who claimed they were "hungry".
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Posted: 3/16/2006 9:14:01 AM EDT
[#23]
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Posted: 3/16/2006 9:17:46 AM EDT
[#24]
I would, bout time I get some of my taxes back instead of having it wasted on others. I'd buy steak and beer with it too, potatoe chips, twinkies, whatever tickled my fancy
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Posted: 3/16/2006 9:18:30 AM EDT
[#25]
Right -- gotcha. If YOUR children are crying, it is OTHER PEOPLES' responsibility to provide for them. Thanks for that clarification, comrade.  No matter what emotional and personal arguments you try to wrap it up in, it's STILL a socialist welfare program. I personally don't have a problem with that, and favor many social programs - I just want people to admit it and not blow smoke up my ass when they are spending my tax money and suckling off the federal teat. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 9:29:05 AM EDT
[#26]
You shouldn't be "ashamed" - you are EXACTLY what these sorts of programs are for, as are the others who have posted in this thread. People who are hard-working and honest, and who have fallen on hard times through no fault of their own. Personally, I think that programs like this (and other welfare programs) should be more extensive. I just can't stand it when people talk about how they are entitled to it, or refuse to admit it's a welfare program. There are SO MANY people on arfcom who keep prattling on about how "socialism is evil" and bitch about "welfare moms" and complain and complain and complain about the evils of socialism and welfare - but then admit that they woudl turn around in a heartbeat and suck at the government teat. THAT'S what I'm whining about in this thread - the hipocracy. I don't mind the food stamp program or welfare. I am in favor of that, and someone who really needs it should take advantage of it. It jsut irritates me when I see people driving nicer cars than me, and buying steak on food stamps and talk about how they had no choice (which is obviously NOT your situation at all) - when my wife and I took out about $40,000 in federal loans and debt over 5 years because we were poor graduate students with practically no income. We could probably have gotten all sorts of welfare and food stamps, but since we had access to federal loan programs and figured that we'd probably get jobs when we finished our education, we had a hard time looking in the mirror and saying we had "no choice." We're still paying it back 6 years later, at some ridiculous rate, like $800 a month. My point is that I just hate it when people (1) take it when they don't REALLY need it, and (2) refuse to admit that they are partaking of a socialist system, and want to act all indignant and self-rightous about it. Once again, I am just not communicating well - and coming across like a total flaming asshole  . I'll just stop posting in this thread.Apologies to everyone I've pissed off or offended. I'm just not good at communicating my thoughts clearly enough on this matter. 
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Posted: 3/16/2006 10:16:16 AM EDT
[#27]
Hipocracy! Let me tell you! If I were a differnet ethinicity, it would't have take a month to get help. I put zero income, no hopes of getting income on the application. It took a month to get help. I'm still waiting on the f**%^@s to get the other help. Thank God I know how to cook from scratch! Yes, we ate some really sad stuff for a week or so. I added rice to some canned soup I had to stretch it out for a meal. All you holier than thous go get a job types, bite me.
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Posted: 3/16/2006 10:20:53 AM EDT
[#28]
It sounds like the most surefire way of getting in over your head in finances is to have children.
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Posted: 3/16/2006 10:24:56 AM EDT
[#29]
Except that the money you paid in taxes was given to other people. And the money you would receive would similarly be taken from other people. Just like Social Security. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 10:30:20 AM EDT
[#30]
Well said, and accurate. Bad things happen. Would I? Yes, as a last resort after all other options are exhausted. It would be as short term as possible, and I would not be buying steak and lobster. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 10:31:03 AM EDT
[#31]
you will need a FEMA card for that |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 10:31:28 AM EDT
[#32]
Should the need ever arise, then feeding the family comes before personal pride.
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Posted: 3/16/2006 10:32:18 AM EDT
[#33]
I paid for them 100x over, might as well
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Posted: 3/16/2006 10:34:49 AM EDT
[#34]
DING DING DING WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!! |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 11:03:14 AM EDT
[#35]
I dunno. I have never been unemployed, not since I was about 14 years old. But I have been poor, real poor. Making $7,500/yr. living in the DC area as a grad student. My first place was a basement room in an old roach-infested rowhouse shared with 8 other students. I had no stereo, no guns, no bicycle, no TV, no AC (try that in DC), no computer, nothing. Later I upgraded to a 9'x15' basement "efficiency" apartment, which was still roach-infested but had AC (some of the time). In that period I did know a grad student who went on food stamps for a little while. He liked it--he could now afford to buy "quality" food, gourmet coffee, etc. and he even bought food for his girlfriend's apartment with the food stamps. GunLvr |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 11:15:27 AM EDT
[#36]
Hell yeah! But I want the WHOLE SHABANG!
If *I* could go on welfare and make LOTS of money on it, free grub, free medical insurance and never have to work again while paying my bills and spending the rest of my life shooting, fishing, hunting, scracthing my ass on everyone elses dime? Brutha, I'm SOOO there.... I'd tell my boss to go screw himself, squeeze the HR girl's boobs, piss in the water cooler head out the door and go fishin'! EVERYDAY! |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 11:21:48 AM EDT
[#37]
I'd just go back and live with my parents if it came to that. When they are gone, it would be my brothers.
No foodstamps or welfare ever! Hell, I'd take a job at Micky D's to avoid it. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 11:23:23 AM EDT
[#38]
Work harder bro! I'm counting on YOU for my "retirement" plans! 
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Posted: 3/16/2006 12:32:51 PM EDT
[#39]
I wouldnt go on them because The_Macallan would berate me, call me a loser, and calll me a scumsucker.
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Posted: 3/16/2006 12:38:06 PM EDT
[#40]
Short of total disability I'm too good for food stamps.That said,I can understand single parents that have fallen on hard times getting it for a short while but as a married parent It's my responsibility as a man to feed my family.If I was totally disabled I would take them(but be ashamed) but as long as I can stand up I'll be a man and support my own family.
Once again I don't begrudge the single mom's that have to take them at all.I'm just saying as a MAN it's my responsibility!!! |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 6:41:11 PM EDT
[#41]
My tax money paid for it. If I needed it I would use it.
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Posted: 3/16/2006 6:52:05 PM EDT
[#42]
Did it once here's why
About 12 years ago my ex's Brother and Sister in-law had some serious issues ( Alcohol ) So we wound up with Four kids overnite After a little while ( I was between jobs ) my funds got low and my ex applied for Food Stamps Felt funny going to the Grocery store but I had Four Little Kids to feed so you do what you have to in that situation |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 7:25:04 PM EDT
[#43]
Can I send you my ex's phone number? He needs a lecture. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 7:45:00 PM EDT
[#44]
Hell no.
I'm wondering how many of you who 'through honestly working like crazy and still couldn't make ends meet to pay for food' durring that time were paying bills like cable tv? how about internet? hell, getting a bus pass is much cheaper than driving around and paying insurance, what about car-pools (I car-pooled for 5 years, if I can do it anyone can)? Way too many people on theese plans have no clue how to prioritize money and really skimp down if they need to. It's funny how many of them think owning a car is a right and the government should provide enough for them to own them. I cannot see how anyone who is working full time or longer could not afford shelter and food at a bare minimum.
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Posted: 3/16/2006 7:58:11 PM EDT
[#45]
Let's see... I don't own a car anymore. Minimum wage doesnt cover rent, and food, and electricity. Much less day care. I had a job. I worked from the day I turned 13 until I was pregnant and the doctor told me to quit. Then I worked some more. I splurged for a team membership, sue me. We don't have cable. My phone was supposed to be cut off yesterday. You guys over generalize too much. Hell, I've scrubbed shit out of bird cages and milked cows. Now, I'm going to suck it up get some help and go to school. Next time your tornado siren goes off and saves your ass, think about me. Maybe I'm the one saving your butt! |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 8:16:04 PM EDT
[#46]
i grew up on the welfare system and promised my self that i would never go on the system again.
but now that i have children. i would have no problem in breaking that promise i was not able to earn enough to pay rent, utilities would have no problem in asking for help with food stamps. till i was able to provide for my family. i have a sister in law that is on welfare and to me i think they are abusing the system. but the government doesn't see it that way. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 8:19:57 PM EDT
[#47]
Well, unless you are at the library you are paying internet bills no? That bill alone should be enough to have eggs every morning for breakfast. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 8:28:13 PM EDT
[#48]
No, I'm not paying the bill Mr. Man. It's past due and getting cut off. |
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Posted: 3/16/2006 8:37:17 PM EDT
[#49]
or to marry a POS.....or BE a POS.....
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Posted: 3/16/2006 9:40:38 PM EDT
[#50]
No way.
You're all bringing up very touching stories and situations where food stamps might give you a warm fuzzy, but it still doesn't mean anyone else should be forced by the government to pay for your misfortune, accidental or otherwise. Everything I have I've earned, and there was a lot of time I went without eating much. One of the benefits of falling on hard times is that it forces you to reevaluate your priorities and simplify your life. |
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