Isn't about time America came off welfare?

Question

The NeoCons are always saying that welfare weakens the poor and they should break their dependency on it. Isn't the whole country hooked on cheap oil and cheap imports from China? Isn't about time the US came off welfare?

Answer 1

Yes, the US has a rude awakening coming. I believe the trade deficit with China alone is 3,000 billion USD. The Chinese are bringing the renmimbi (sp?) up but not fast enough. And then there's all the money the US owes the rest of the world.



And the US tourist Industry is crashing (apart from NY which increased by 9% last year) Nobody wants to visit for many reasons, the way we are treated at Immigration for a start. The 20th century was the US's prime time, and now its over.



Arrggg, Pink Princess, Tom S and the rest, you have completely misunderstood the question - read it again. This illustrates perfectly that few US citizens have any idea of how much deep do-do they are really in. Their media keeps them in innocence.

Answer 2

You sound very young.



Read "The Grapes of Wrath", by John Steinbeck. It will give you a good idea of why the welfare system was installed in this country. Read about the Great Depression in the 30's, the stock market crash of '29, and wonder what it would be like to suddenly lose everything you have and not have a safety net.



A person milking the welfare system just to avoid working should be ashamed of himself. But a woman with 5 kids and few skills is better off getting welfare than getting a $6/hour job - that won't feed her kids or pay for child care. What did the kids do to deserve your judgment?



Some people on welfare are lazy; others are not. But nobody should have to go hungry, no matter who they are. The hungrier and needier the people, the more violent they get. That puts the whole country in jeopardy, not just the so-called "lazy" poor.

Answer 3

I'm not sure I or anyone answering your question truly understands your definition of "welfare".



Amsterdam gets an "arrggg" from me as well for "all the money the US owes the rest of the world" demonstrating her lack of world economics including trade balances and the financial support US supplies to other economies while other countries turn their heads saying "let the US deal with it" .



Welfare is a broad term. If it's used in a discussion of people receiving welfare payments (regardless of oil, imports, etc.) my answer would be a general "Yes" to the US re-routing welfare $$$ being spent on qualifying applicants & funding a "financial rehabilitation" versus a handout.



Welfare from "an oil point of view" I can understand and agree with the questioneer in that trading billions of years of producing oil and tapping it for a relatively miniscule time period is a call to reality. The bottom line is that we need to develop a different, more efficient source of renewable energy.



Welfare could also be defined as the "support" US affords countries by allowing illegal aliens to enter our country and "sap" our benefit systems developed, as previously noted, to aid the likes of destitutes decades ago. There is nothing wrong in my mind for using the most economical resource. The question I have in this regard is "are we really looking at the total cost when we use cheaper labor?"



The original question should be re-asserted given the different assorted responses received for clarification.

Answer 4

I am so sick and tired of watching people take free handouts from welfare. I was in a food store the other day and watched a woman load up 2 carts of groceries. She handed the girl at the register her food stamp card and the girl said that it wouldn't cover all of the food. You know what she did, she said thats OK, just use that first and I'll pay for the rest. She pulled out a huge roll of cash. The old man behind me shok his head and like me was disgusted.

They need to give them one year and thats it your off, get there lazy asses up and get a job. I'm sick of hearing that theres no jobs. There are PLENTY of jobs, just too many lazy people who would rather stay home and do nothing. It's a shame that the few and yes I say few who really need help get a bad wrap from the ones who want to sponge off of everyone else especially this 2nd and 3rd generation crap.

It's easy for politicians to fund the welfare since they never really see how bad it is every day. In my job (Criminal Justice) I'd say that at least 70 % of the people I deal with are on some type of assistance.

Answer 5

Um...why tobacco testing? Drugs & alcohol I understand, but... cigarettes? Your suggestions #1, 3, 4 without restrictions on tobacco, and 5, although probably not legal, might actually work. I don't think #2 is much of a lever, given that so many people look upon voting as a chore. All in all, very interesting...but, not practical. How about a simple limit on how much a person may draw in a lifetime?

Answer 6

As you already know Hon, the social services provided to Americans that we know as "welfare" comprises only a miniscule portion of the U.S. financial pie.

Meanwhile, U.S. taxpayers shell out billions annually to major corporations, sometimes so that they can move manufacturing to Mexico, or relocate offshore. Insanity!

We will ALL end up paying for the loss of American jobs so that Americans can have the "right" to continue sucking up cheap, poorly-made Chinese imports.

I'd sure rather my tax dollars went to hungry children than the CEO of MacDonald's. And kudos to Amsterdam for understanding the question :)

Answer 7

Sorry, but your question seems to be very hazy equating cheap oil and cheap imports. Oil is much more costly now more than ever setting record prices every day. I cannot see the relationship that you see with cheap imports. Back in the '50s made in Japan was cheap imports. The world and economy is constantly evolving.

Answer 8

It's do as I say not as I do! Today they are putting sanctions onto Iranian banks. Is this a desperate attempt to keep the US dolor as the world currency. Iran sells it's oil to China in Euros!

Answer 9

The welfare goes to the the wealthy "only" in USA hence those who already have lots of money! Poor legal Americans get nothing except major deception & run-around.

Answer 10

I think the US needs to definitely stomp its dependence on foreign anything. Is it nice to have imports? Sure. But we shouldn't depend and NEED it.

Answer 11

YES! YES! YES! People in general should come off welfare. It is ridiculous that lazy people who want free money are getting money from our government (and our paychecks) because they are having babies they can't afford! I think welfare should only be allowed for 6 months or a year at most for only one child. This is ridiculous!

Answer 12

Why do you consider it welfare to buy cheap products?

Answer 13

China provides us with cheap labor, cheap labor helps our economy, stop complaining and get an education if you have trouble finding a job.

Answer 14

How you're equating "cheap oil and cheap imports" with handouts is beyond me.



At least we're still PAYING for that oil and imports, and it's not being given to us.

Answer 15

the thing is some people only know welfare, and \ or they are not the least bit intrested in leaving welfare... to them it's their way of life... you have to accept that some people don't want to be educated.

Answer 16

yes...and the subsidised farmers too... join the real world....