Quote:
|
Originally Posted by StewartG
I wasn't trying to argue with him, disagree with him or second guess him in any way...
I was simply trying to figure out what he meant by "spooner!!!"
BTW, I agree with you about way too many people abusing this country's public assistance "social safety net." I've posted about that a few times - I think we should crack down on fraud and punish it harder than we currently do. Most of my fellow Democrats agree. But I do NOT think we should eliminate our social safety net as the current neo-conservative Republicans do.
Abuse of the social safety net system only provides ammunition for those either heartless enough or neo-conservative enough to want to eliminate the vast majority of these programs, even for those who truly need the help and have no other option. These ultra-right wingers then use these examples (far too many, unfortunately) of abuse of the social safety net system to support their argument to ELIMINATE the system rather than to advocate fixing the problems. I have no problem with a portion of my tax dollars going to people who TRULY need the help, and I think most Americans agree with me. Unfortunately, abuse by a few jeapordizes the availibility of these safety net programs for those with true need.
|
I agree too that there are people who need help through no fault of their own. But when we are getting into 3rd and 4th generation welfare families, then a line needs to be drawn. Too many see how easy it is to get. Their parents didn't work , so why should they? What ticks me off is when I see people who worked their whole lives, granted they never made alot of money, but they fall in the cracks when they need help.
I have been to the welfare office on behalf of an elderly aunt. She worked as a hotel maid...and she wasn't real bright. Her hubby was a security guard. He drops dead, only enough insurance to bury him. She gets cancer. She moves in with my folks because her income alone won't cover her bills. Her medical bills sky-rocket... I went to SOcial Security and Medicaid. Both turned her down. Yet I could not understand why all the signs and forms were in English and Spanish. The case worker showed me a file of a woman who had 2 illegitimate kids, in public housing, welfare, food stamps, etc... and she also had an illegal man living with her. Yet a woman who worked till she was 65 got squat. All we asked for was help on the medical bills.