SC's that put luxury ahead of priorities

[protege]

He's seen a few of these cars in the low-income housing areas.

That's probably the local drug dealer then. I see *many* vehicles like that on the way to/from work. Nearly all of them are in the low income areas--it's a bit odd to see a Hummer or even a new Cadillac parked outside some of those places. Usually, there's something going on--most people who can afford those cars do not live in low-income housing!

Rural SW PA has *lots* of people like that. They live in places no better than shacks, yet have a brand-new truck in the driveway, multiple dishes on the roof, etc. They can't afford to take care of their house, yet have that crap?

I have *no* sympathy for them. I'm busting my ass to make car and house payments. I work 40-45 hour weeks, then go home and work on my *own* house. I don't get nice things, often, simply because I can't afford to. Yet, these people have that crap, are usually on welfare (and know how to abuse it)...while I have to work for it? Sorry, but I have a *serious* problem with that!

[tamezin]

Not fair -- Not fair

Yet, this lady had a Princess (AKA Trimline) phone of each and every color in her home!

When I was a kid (before the AT&T break-up, I know I am dating myself), I remember the princess phone...I wanted one soooo bad. For some reason my mother felt there were other more important things. I would have been more than happy to have given up a few necessities just to have that phone.

[greensinestro]

I've had them in the store scrounging their coins together for a pack of cigarettes and then tell their kids they don't have enough to get them a treat.

People like this piss me off more than anything and flame away if you want but they're the reason I'm a conservative republican. I'm sick of working my arse off for what I need only to watch the government hand it over to someone who sit's on theirs all day and then come in and ask if we take food stamps for beer.

That gets me, too. I can't recall where it was in Florida, but several years back, there was an incident where a convenience store clerk was shot by a person trying to buy cigarettes with food stamps. The clerk explained over and over again that this person could not buy cigarettes with food stamps, and they are only good for specific items. An argument ensued, and the clerk was shot in the face for obeying the law.

So, this scumbag somehow obtained a gun, probably stolen since you can't buy one with food stamps, went to buy something that is not food, tried to buy this with food stamps, and got so upset that he killed an innocent employee in a convenience store.

Florida has become very strict on how food stamps are used and abused. I've seen my share of arguments, like customers that try to buy sugary cereals, sugary soda pop, or candy, when they are supposed to use them for essential items. Glad I don't work at a grocery store any more.

[blas]

Green, that story is awful. Hopefully that scumbag is rotting in a prison cell or got the needle and is 6 feet under, and those foodstamps are going to someone who actually will use them for what they are intended for.

[fattie20xl]

i used to do tell/data and home theater installs. back in 2005 i had the unfortunate experience of installing a home theater in a crack den.

it was this guy's apartment/horrible crack den. all the electrical outlets were falling out of the wall, there was cocaine residue everywhere, questionable stains on the carpet and the chair....

i burned my clothes that day.

i've even recounted it (with pictures and everything) on my personal site (http://greasypants.com/index/stories/crack-den/)

the thing is this was in the upper east side of manhattan (really expensive area) and the guy was a commercial real estate broker....

[bainsidhe]

Florida has become very strict on how food stamps are used and abused. I've seen my share of arguments, like customers that try to buy sugary cereals, sugary soda pop, or candy, when they are supposed to use them for essential items. Glad I don't work at a grocery store any more.

Does Florida really limit foodstamps on things like sugary cereals, soda pop, etc? I'm in New York and as long as it is food (exception on deli food), then it's fair game.

I always say I try not to judge, but sometimes it really gets me how people use their foodstamps. And yes, I have been asked if foodstamps can be used towards beer. I guess it really doesn't matter to me how you spend on groceries, even if our taxes pay for it. Unless of course, the only thing you are buying is junk food crap or you clearly state (as if you are proud of it) that you're getting candy and gifts for your family. Grrr. Also, we'll occassionally get someone with the "cash back" feature who then turns around and buys cigs. Thank goodness, most people are normal and use that extra money to buy toilet paper or clothes for their kids.

[DannyboyO1]

Green, that story is awful. Hopefully that scumbag is rotting in a prison cell or got the needle and is 6 feet under, and those foodstamps are going to someone who actually will use them for what they are intended for.

I'm going to hope he got traded for cigs a few times while in jail.

[Hon'ya-chan]

So, this scumbag somehow obtained a gun, probably stolen since you can't buy one with food stamps,

There has been cases where welfare folks will trade Food Stamps for cash (usually at a nominal discount) and the person/business that gets them will redeem them to the government for full credit.

Your tax dollars at work.

[Sylvia727]

Major and major I apoligize in advance, but this pushed my hot buttons.

A friend's family actually went on foodstamps a while ago, because her alcoholic father took out so many mortages and loans to support his gambling that everything they owned got reposessed. Her parents got divorced and her mom took the kids and moved in with her own mom. My friend's mom started going to beginner's finance classes: "how to do your taxes", "how to balance your checkbook", etc. and she went back to college to finish her degree because minimum wage would barely feed her kids and she wanted to get a better job.

Here's the kicker: she would have been willing and eager to get a minimum wage job while she attended college to help defray the costs. However, if she done that, she would have been kicked off food stamps. Now this is in Missouri, but I'm going to assume the principle is applied to the entire USA.

A much better system would be: Let's say she needs $20,000 annually to keep three kids fed, clothed, clean and healthy. I read a newspaper article that said $19k to maintain two kids, but let's round down. She gets a part-time job for minimum wage (remember, she's an ex-housewife) at $6.50/hour for 20 hours a week, that's about $6,500 a year. She gets kicked off welfare because she has a job. Wouldn't it make more sense to reduce her welfare to $13,500 a year? Or even add an incentive to get a job and get real work experience: reduce welfare to $14,000 a year.

Let's take the same woman who gives up on college and bettering her own lot in life. She works 60 hours/week at minimum wage to earn $20,000. Anything less than 60 hours/week and she can't keep her kids fed, clothed, clean and healthy. Meanwhile, she lives in crappy housing, her immune system is shot from lack of sleep, and she can't supervise/raise her kids. No wonder her children running rampant at the supermarket or mugging people in back alleys; they never see their mother. The only values reinforcement they get is from an underpaid teacher and their peers.

Our welfare system is forcing people to choose between a crappy, hectic, and stressful life; or a crappy, carefree, and lazy life. Guess which one 9 out of 10 people will choose?

Then their kids don't learn work ethics, they don't go to college, and they see all their peers either bumming off welfare or slacking off at and getting fired from minimum wage jobs. And a second generation of welfare bums is created.

My friend's family is still on welfare. The mom has a 3.0 GPA. They were almost kicked off welfare last month, because the money my friend makes (and is putting away for college) is almost enough to disqualify them. Her mom made her work less hours from now on. The mom doesn't like sponging off the system like this, but her only other viable choice is to work 60 hours/week at minimum wage, and she's decided that this is best for her family.

*breathes out* Does anyone have any better statistics on this subject? I'm working completely from memory and a four-function calculator here.

[greensinestro]

Does Florida really limit foodstamps on things like sugary cereals, soda pop, etc? I'm in New York and as long as it is food (exception on deli food), then it's fair game.

Apparently so being I witnessed this first hand at the local Publix not too long ago. This man in front of me was trying to buy Honey Smacks, Golden Crisp, and Corn Pops with food stamps. The cashier whipped out a chart that had pictures of what cereals he was allowed to buy, and anything else was to be purchased with cash. Now, soda could be another story, but I was referring to what this cashier said, saying only certain sodas and other drinks were allowed.

Exception of deli, eh? Too bad that's not the case here. Some people actually have been able to buy T-bone steaks with food stamps.

[OfficeSlug]

Apparently so being I witnessed this first hand at the local Publix not too long ago. This man in front of me was trying to buy Honey Smacks, Golden Crisp, and Corn Pops with food stamps. The cashier whipped out a chart that had pictures of what cereals he was allowed to buy, and anything else was to be purchased with cash. Now, soda could be another story, but I was referring to what this cashier said, saying only certain sodas and other drinks were allowed.

Exception of deli, eh? Too bad that's not the case here. Some people actually have been able to buy T-bone steaks with food stamps.

I work at Publix part-time - the only chart we have that shows the restrictions is for WIC, not food stamps.

And there are those who will whip out the EBT card (food stamps), proudly announce "Food stamps!", pay for their food, and then pay cash for their beer/cigs!

[Nayeli_Sabia]

See, this is something I don't understand. My husband makes less than the poverty line right now. I am currently a SAHM we have one baby. The food comes first, then water, electric, gas, and house payment. After that is debt(we'll be debt free in February!). AFTER all of that we have cable internet and 5 cable channels. I loved when my sister-in-law told me I needed to complain to the cable company because I wasn't getting all of my channels. Not true, I begged them for their lowest smallest, cheapest package.

The baby is clean, we're well fed. I'm not on foodstamps, welfare, or WIC even though we qualify. We where on WIC for a about a year, but we got finances together to get off of it as soon as able.

So if I can do it, why can't they?? Heck, we wouldn't have a TV if my Nana hadn't given us one... it's from 1983 and is as old as I am. I love that TV and appreciate the gift it is.

[FuzzyKitten99]

Our welfare system is forcing people to choose between a crappy, hectic, and stressful life; or a crappy, carefree, and lazy life. Guess which one 9 out of 10 people will choose?

you know why? Votes. Politicians pass these laws and legislation because they pander to the lazy, self-righteous people, telling them that they don't have to try, that "Life, Liberty, and the persuit of happiness" is guaranteed, when in reality, it isn't. Then because they tell these people they will get free handouts, guess who these people vote for? Then what happens when they continue pushing stuff like this through? The cycle continues until society as a whole, decided it is enough, and breaks it somehow. Unfortunately, it is hard to break the cycle now, because of the power-hungry politicians more worried about their jobs than the actual true needs of society, and they will always pander to the lowest common denominator, and keep their jobs.

[Estil]

And don't forget that if their political opponents have a problem with overdoing the handouts, they'll be attacked as "against the poor" and "taking away Social Security/Medicare and making seniors eat dog food".

[FuzzyKitten99]

And don't forget that if their political opponents have a problem with overdoing the handouts, they'll be attacked as "against the poor" and "taking away Social Security/Medicare and making seniors eat dog food".

Absolutely agreed! Both sides are guilty of it, and I believe that the rational majority of both sides are completely sick of the BS, but unfortunately it takes millions of dollars to run for any higher office, and that alone tends to discourage people who are of level-headed thinking and logic from attempting to run for office.

However that won't stop me from running for the local city council and school boards after my kids are older and are a bit more independent.