| Author | Message | ||
     1324 |
So the other day, my father called me and our conversation ultimately ended up on politics, as usual (we tend to agree). An interesting topic, which I missed somehow, was welfare reform. According to him (and a LITTLE bit of internet coverage), Obama has essentially allowed the welfare reform act of 1996 to fall by the wayside. You'll remember, that this bill was a compromise between Bill Clinton and the Republican controlled congress at the time. Bottom line: states will have the 'flexibility' to regulate welfare as they see fit (if there are confines, I've yet to find them tabulated). The key sticking point for the right (and myself) is that the new language would allow for welfare recipients to sit and collect without actively looking for a new job. Of course, supporters tout that flexibility is good and that states don't HAVE to change the job hunt requirement. They also purport that why look for a job when there are no jobs? Needless to say, I think this is a really big issue. I hate to ask this in a public forum, but inquiring minds want to know from those who hopefully do: what is the deal with this? Conjecture aside, does the welfare system need THIS kind of flexibility? Or, as I fear, are we just giving another nod to the state-controlled livelihood that we seem so destined to be approaching? Discuss. | ||
| Kyrocket |
I'm going to go against my rule of posting in political and/or religious threads here and tell you what I see everyday and leave it at that. I personally know of a handful of families in my town of 7K who are second or third generation welfare. They will not work, except maybe for cash on the occasional odd job. They milk the system for everything they can. I also see others popping out kids just to get more money from the gov. Then there are those who are just lazy. As you can surely guess there are drugs involved in almost every case. As far as work goes, we are very fortunate to have several factories within a five mile drive, one in particular starts out in the $10 - $12 range and needs 120 people right now to work. They can't find enough people to pass a drug test to fill their need. The gov. has made it easy for those who just want to eek by in life, want nothing more than to live in poverty and draw food stamps to do just that. I don't know what it's like elsewhere but this is what I see locally every day. Does welfare need an overhaul? Most definitely. What's the answer? I have no idea, but I know where I'd start. | ||
| Fb1 |
...Obama has essentially allowed the welfare reform act of 1996 to fall by the wayside... To which I would add: ...by presidential decree, in total defiance of the law.
Buying more votes, by presidential fiat, at the expense of creating even more of a dependency-based population, at the ultimate expense of our American Republic. Is this yet another example of "hope and change," Mr. Obama? Well, I dearly hope we change presidents this coming November... | ||
| Fb1 |
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| Sifo |
On a related topic of collecting unemployment insurance, my wife, along with numerous co-workers got laid off this year. One of her co-workers signed up for college courses to help build her skills to make herself more marketable in this difficult job market. Her ex-employer is good enough to provide good education benefits to their laid-off workers. Meanwhile she is still actively searching for a new job. She has bills that need to be paid after all. One of the questions on the unemployment certification is if you are taking any education courses while unemployed. Nothing about how it's being paid for. She answered honestly that she was taking classes and they denied her unemployment claim because of that. This is a person who has worked all her life and wants to work into the future and is trying to take personal responsibility to make themselves a better worker and the state of IL is penalizing her for it.  | ||
| Strokizator |
I think this is admission by Obama that he's a failure at stimulating the job market. "Yeah, don't bother looking for a job, there ain't any". Here's another tidbit of information. In June, 80,000 people found a job but 85,000 went on disability for a net loss of 5000 jobs. In the last 3 years 2.6 million found jobs while 3.1 million went on the govt disability dole. What a POS this guy is. http://tinyurl.com/cp6m22s | ||
| Sifo |
In June, 80,000 people found a job but 85,000 went on disability for a net loss of 5000 jobs. That doesn't even account for the shrinkage of the job market due to an expanding population. I think that's supposed to be in the 250-300k per month range. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Sifo, UI claims can be approved for those attending school full time. The process is slow and painful, but it is possible. My experience is as a Missouri resident and a veteran. I'm sure each situation and state process is different, but I'd be more than happy to share what I know with you and your friend, just shoot me a PM. Also, first hand experience has shown me that welfare programs are designed to help those who do not help themselves. My future kids & grandkids are screwed unless drastic changes happen soon. | ||
| Fb1 |
...welfare programs are designed to help those who do not help themselves... I would add: ...and to insure an obedient, loyal, and dependent constituency. | ||
| Daves |
...welfare programs are designed to help those who do not help themselves... I would add: ...and to insure an obedient, loyal, and dependent constituency. BINGO! | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
Seriously, do any of you believe the necessary changes have a shot in hell of becoming reality? | ||
| Cityxslicker |
there are jobs posted.... I am betting that putting on line and not filling them is 'creating' a job, and earns that corporation a tax bene of some sort. I have over the last three years, submitted three to five resumes a DAY to positions across the country. I have had response from less than 12. Between Taleo X, Kenexa and key word search widgets - I am convinced it is worthless endeavor to submit a resume to a US based company. They don't answer it - don't read it, admittedly an HR generalist... or their intern lackey will spend 37 seconds scanning a resume for a position they posted. For a proposal and RFP that they did not post - pftt, forget about it. Why isn't America working ? Check your HR departments. Conversely - I email and respond to postings in any of the FSU, Russia, or India - and I get an interview - about half of those I end up with a contract free lance work - nothing permanent - but without them, indeed, I would be out of work and as for welfare - I will NEVER qualify. I am white, middle aged, no kids, not disabled, not criminal and not a protected entitlement class for anyone. (and as I will never qualify for it, I do not believe I should have to pay for it - same with Social Security ) Plus I have entirely too much drive and pride to ever sit on my azz and nuzzle the gov't teet. |
