A Good Start

swatsurgeon · 01-13-2011, 22:53

Sent to me by a friend...thought I would share.

This was in the Waco Tribune Herald, Waco , TX 18Nov2010
>
> Put me in charge ...
>
> Put me in charge of food stamps. I'd get rid of Lone Star cards; no cash
> for Ding Dongs or Ho Ho's, just money for 50-pound bags of rice and
> beans, blocks of cheese and all the powdered milk you can haul away. If
> you want steak and frozen pizza, then get a job.
>
> Put me in charge of Medicaid. The first thing I'd do is to get women
> Norplant birth control implants or tubal ligations. Then, we'll test
> recipients for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine and document all tattoos and
> piercings. If you want to reproduce or use drugs, alcohol, smoke or get
> tats and piercings, then get a job.
>
> Put me in charge of government housing. Ever live in a military
> barracks? You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of
> repair. Your "home" will be subject to inspections anytime and
> possessions will be inventoried. If you want a plasma TV or Xbox 360,
> then get a job and your own place.
>
> In addition, you will either present a check stub from a job each week
> or you will report to a "government" job. It may be cleaning the
> roadways of trash, painting and repairing public housing, whatever we
> find for you. We will sell your 22 inch rims and low profile tires and
> your blasting stereo and speakers and put that money toward the "common
> good."
>
> Before you write that I've violated someone's rights, realize that all
> of the above is voluntary. If you want our money, accept our rules..
> Before you say that this would be "demeaning" and ruin their "self
> esteem," consider that it wasn't that long ago that taking someone
> else's money for doing absolutely nothing was demeaning and lowered self
> esteem.
>
> If we are expected to pay for other people's mistakes we should at least
> attempt to make them learn from their bad choices. The current system
> rewards them for continuing to make bad choices.
>
> Alfred W. Evans, Gatesville

Not a bad way to begin changing the 'system'. Wonder if any politicians would agree?

ss

oifcmb24 · 01-13-2011, 23:07

I'd vote for him.

nmap · 01-13-2011, 23:32

Today? No - no politicians would agree.

Tomorrow...say, about 2020...yes, I believe plenty will agree. And the recipients will be grateful.

01-14-2011, 01:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by swatsurgeon

Sent to me by a friend...thought I would share.

This was in the Waco Tribune Herald, Waco , TX 18Nov2010
>
> Put me in charge ...
>
> Put me in charge of food stamps. I'd get rid of Lone Star cards; no cash
> for Ding Dongs or Ho Ho's, just money for 50-pound bags of rice and
> beans, blocks of cheese and all the powdered milk you can haul away. If
> you want steak and frozen pizza, then get a job.
>
> Put me in charge of Medicaid. The first thing I'd do is to get women
> Norplant birth control implants or tubal ligations. Then, we'll test
> recipients for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine and document all tattoos and
> piercings. If you want to reproduce or use drugs, alcohol, smoke or get
> tats and piercings, then get a job.
>
> Put me in charge of government housing. Ever live in a military
> barracks? You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of
> repair. Your "home" will be subject to inspections anytime and
> possessions will be inventoried. If you want a plasma TV or Xbox 360,
> then get a job and your own place.
>
> In addition, you will either present a check stub from a job each week
> or you will report to a "government" job. It may be cleaning the
> roadways of trash, painting and repairing public housing, whatever we
> find for you. We will sell your 22 inch rims and low profile tires and
> your blasting stereo and speakers and put that money toward the "common
> good."
>
> Before you write that I've violated someone's rights, realize that all
> of the above is voluntary. If you want our money, accept our rules..
> Before you say that this would be "demeaning" and ruin their "self
> esteem," consider that it wasn't that long ago that taking someone
> else's money for doing absolutely nothing was demeaning and lowered self
> esteem.
>
> If we are expected to pay for other people's mistakes we should at least
> attempt to make them learn from their bad choices. The current system
> rewards them for continuing to make bad choices.
>
> Alfred W. Evans, Gatesville

Not a bad way to begin changing the 'system'. Wonder if any politicians would agree?

ss

This is the kind of thinking that will get us in trouble at the SHOT show,...

I'll bring the Whiskey and cigars, you bring the stolen glasses from the hotel.

swatsurgeon · 01-14-2011, 02:34

wet dog........ROGER THAT!!

Dusty · 01-14-2011, 05:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by swatsurgeon

Not a bad way to begin changing the 'system'. Wonder if any politicians would agree?

ss

Wonder how many of those would be Democrat?

PedOncoDoc · 01-14-2011, 05:42

I love the concept - if you want goverment assistance, be prepared to live a very bland and austere life, and if you f#@k around you will lose any and all assistance.

I do like the idea of mandated birth control while on assistance - too many kids being brought into this vicious cycle without any choice/say, and the odds of overcoming their environment are heavily against them. Tubal ligation is not a good option IMHO; it is not reversible if someone gets themself out of the rut and later wants to have kids, and surgery is expensive and not without risk. Every three-monthly Depo-Provera injections are quite effective, and many women don't have menstrual bleeding while on them so feminine hygiene expenses would not have to be covered for the women. If they do not show up for their quarterly injection, cut them off. What can we do to keep the boys in check as well?

Unfortunalty, I believe the crime rate would skyrocket if the concepts in the OP were enforced. Those who were not willing to support themselves in the first place will look for other easy paychecks - likely through illegal means.

Dusty · 01-14-2011, 06:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by PedOncoDoc

Those who were not willing to support themselves in the first place will look for other easy paychecks - likely through illegal means.

Many do that now, it seems.

PedOncoDoc · 01-14-2011, 06:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty

Many do that now, it seems.

Wholeheartedly agree - but I believe many more would be going down that route if their extravagant lifestyle on government assistance was regulated/restricted.

Dusty · 01-14-2011, 06:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by PedOncoDoc

Wholeheartedly agree - but I believe many more would be going down that route if their extravagant lifestyle on government assistance was regulated/restricted.

Roger that; there'd be wholesale rioting and looting, IMO.

**Peregrino** · 01-14-2011, 08:11

If that's how they want to play - fine. It just means the rest of us can play "Korean shopkeeper". IIRC it worked out pretty well for certain parts of LA last time around.

nmap · 01-14-2011, 13:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by NORMAL550GIRL

You seem to miss the obvious: anybody that is really living that way while on government assistance is already doing something illegal. No way you can afford plasma screens and $60 video games on food stamps and unemployment.

Let us suppose an ostensibly middle-class family living well beyond its means with two wage earners and two children. Let us also suppose an expensive house, a mortgage to match, and a home equity loan on top of that. Toss in two one year old vehicles, each loaded with debt. Also toss in student loans. Add in high credit card debt. In addition, suppose minimal savings. By the way - home equity is substantially less than total debt.

Now suppose both wage earners lose their jobs.

They would still have a vast array of stuff - with modest resale value. They would have no income or liquid assets.

They might well need assistance.

By the way - I'm quite serious about the 2020 time frame. I think we'll see many people who fit the profile above, and they will need (and be grateful for) the beans and a cot.

However - they may be quite resentful of their fall. Therein, perhaps, lies a hint at where the political environment in the U.S. will go.

Dusty · 01-14-2011, 13:50

Anybody who hangs his ass out over the lion cage by over-extending on credit and gets bit has nobody to blame but himself.

Oldrotorhead · 01-14-2011, 14:23

The only thing I could add is proof of citizenship for everyone in the house hold.

Surf n Turf · 01-14-2011, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dusty

Anybody who hangs his ass out over the lion cage by over-extending on credit and gets bit has nobody to blame but himself.

Dusty,
I am in agreement with the whole plan – BUT

Imagine a young family, (Father, Mom, 2 kids) Dad is a carpenter, fully employed. Mom works at the local bank. Married for 6 years. Grandma, who lives down the street, baby sits the kids until Mom gets home.
Combined income is $45.000. They purchase a house, for $95,000, with a down payment (from savings) of $20,000, and a mortgage of $75,000.
They have debt of $6,500 dollars (Dad’s used truck), and $4,500 in the bank
Mom gets pregnant, and in the 6th month has to cut back her hours at the Bank. Shortly thereafter, the slump in construction catches up with Dad, and he can find no work.
Is this an example of “overextending on credit” I think not – and I’m sure that the above is a small percent of those on public assistance. Did this family make any mistakes or bad choices – Again, I think not.
First, we have to separate the “freeloaders” from the neighbors we would like to help.
For the freeloaders, the above remedy’s are reasonable – for the above example – not so much.
SnT