Quote:
Originally Posted by Ice
There's this idea that the US doesn't do enough for the poor. If you are a citizen you are eligible for medicare (almost free healthcare and low cost prescription drugs), you can get food stamps (which has essentially become a debit card since now you can take cash off it to buy things like cigarettes and alcohol that are not food stamp eligible) and WIC, where the government sends you checks to purchase specific items like dairy, formula, diapers, juices, etc. The problem isn't that the goverment isn't doing enough, the problem is that the US isn't using enough discretion. I worked at a grocery store for five months, and watched people with food stamps and WIC come in every week and then go out and get in their brand new cars, some of them nice cars, like a Lexus SUV, meanwhile, the goverment is paying for their food. One of my coworkers was working two jobs and moved back in with her mom in order to take care of her seven year old daughter. People who can work should be encouraged to do so. Instead, our goverment encourages people to either live within poverty level of handouts or manipulate the system. I don't think the number of poor people is being reduced, so is the system working?
This is the government that should be in charge of a universal health care plan? I don't think so.
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Good point Ice. I still can't believe how many people will deny that there are people on welfare, food stamps etc. who drive Escalades etc. There are! I've delivered mail to them. They've admitted that they've committed fraud to get welfare, or have deliberately gotten pregnant to get more aid. Of course they must (?) be in the minority, but to completely deny that it happens is ridiculous. Can't afford to eat but man they've an H3 in the driveway and satellite TV. Most of the homes are pretty scrubby, maybe they hide the cars when the investigator comes by (if at all). I don't get it.