Too Many Dependent on Government
I made my own trip to the grocery store a couple weeks ago and was unfortunate enough to get behind a couple with two shopping carts half-filled with goodies. The man (I use that term very loosely) took the lead and promptly loaded the cashier's conveyor with milk, cheese, eggs, cereal, bread, and a few other staples. The cashier swiped his items and advised the total. He reached for his EBT card (the electronic version of food stamps) and settled up. Next, his significant other placed her cart-full on the conveyor. To my amazement, she lifted from the buggy a spatula, a DVD movie, several cans of hair products, and even some Cadbury Eggs marked down as part of the after-Easter candy sale. These "necessities" totaled twenty-something dollars. She swiped her credit card, signed the receipt and they were on their way.
I finished up and was not far behind them as they slammed the trunk on their Honda Civic. I reflected on what I had witnessed and realized what these people were doing was downright fraudulent. The "man" was just a few years older than me, and appeared to be in good shape. From the conversations I overheard between him and his significant other he appeared to be of above-average intellect; certainly capable of holding down a job. It's hard for me to understand how someone collects aid when they don't really need it. Perhaps if they could live without a few of their goodies, they could afford grocery staples and buy them with their own money.
Now if God-forbid something happened to me that incapacitated me in such a way that I could not work, or parent my children while my wife worked, then we may at some point have to accept aid. However, as long as I can use my brain or my muscles I will find an honest day's work and provide for my family. It should not be the role of the government to pick up on my short-comings as a husband and father. Every able-bodied man should be contributing to the support of himself and his family. Furthermore, it is important to have a contingency plan for unforeseen events that jeopardize his ability to provide this support. Emergency savings are a must to put some distance between you and the edge of a financial cliff. Disability and life insurance plans are available to cover such emergencies. As a society, we must rely on ourselves rather than our government.
Published by Tyler Foster
I am a 30 year old husband and father of two working in software development for money, but writing for fulfillment. View profile
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8 Comments
Post a CommentYou can't assume that you know what is going on in that situation. The good things I see about what was stated above is that the EBT purchase was for actual staples and not junk food, half of the non-food items were potentially necessary, the candy was on sale and not bought with EBT funds, and of the entertainment choices available to them, a DVD may be one of the more inexpensive choices. Everyone needs some time to unwind during these hard economic times and a dvd can be a relatively inexpensive way to do it.
while there are alot of people who need welfare the biggest proble is 2/3s of every welfare dollar goes to illeagles leaving far les for those who need it for basic food utilities and training
You can't assume fraud from just looking at what's in a person's grocery cart, nor can you look at them and say they should get a job. It's not always that easy. My husband was laid off three months ago...a very intelligent, able-bodied man...and he has been searching eight hours a day, 5-6 days a week for work and hasn't found it yet. Our emergency savings is now running out, and we're waiting to get food stamps now, because he's working, but can't make enough to earn more than our basic expenses. Did that couple have kids? Food stamps won't pay for non-food items. You can't assume the able-bodied man is always sitting on his rear. Mine is busting his, and still hasn't found work. Being unemployed is grinding and hard. Abuse may exist, but it may not be as widespread as it seems.
Tamee, you made a great response. You are exactly the type of person that deserves the help. I was really aiming my disgust to the able-bodied man accompanying the woman in this story who apparently sat on his butt all day instead of working to support his family. God bless you and your family. Thanks for the comments.
That crap is out of control here in Pennsylvania as well. I bust my butt as a single mom of 3 working for 12 an hour and pay my taxes so others can mooch off the system and take it easy. It's just not fair, I get no help and I am proud of that fact.
"Children learn what they live"; the government is like parents and the citizens are like children. Our elected officials are known for abusing the system, such as buying $100. screw drivers or Homeland Security using tax dollars for escort sevices. The Bush clan has been stealing taxpayers dollars for a hundred years (see Kellogg, Root and Brown). Big Business like the pharmeceutical industry runs the government; there is no affordable health care (unless one is an illegal immigrant), lack of affordable housing and people who do low paying service jobs usually do not earn enough to pay for insurances that is not part of their pay package. I agree that the couple you saw, assuming they were from your observation, probably are abusing the welfare system.
I agree with you New Mexican. That is really the root of the problem of our entire welfare state, despite its small improvements over the last few years. I would much rather help the single mom working an entry-level job to help ends meet than a family of three with an able-bodied man sitting on his rear end!
While I agree that there is abuse and fraud rampant in federal aid programs, I still believe the majority of folks who receive benefits are truly in need. The bigger problem is that too many who don't need help get it, and those who truly need it have to jump through too many hoops.