Poverty and Voting

[rockmom]

Unless you make that Henry521 DD:lol::lol:

 

 

:laugh::laugh::laugh::laugh:

[rockmom]

Knowing me, you know which party I'm calling. I'm sure it happens in both which is sad either way you look at it.

 

 

Yes, it is sad. But, I'm glad to have you post that information. I hear so much about how Democrats, or "liberals" are ill-informed, and it's nice to have someone on the other side of the fence that is honest enough to admit that it's a problem in the Republican party as well.

 

The sad thing is the "privilege" of voting seems to be tarnished. People don't put the real effort into deciding that they should, and take it for granted.

[Henry521]

Yes, it is sad. But, I'm glad to have you post that information. I hear so much about how Democrats, or "liberals" are ill-informed, and it's nice to have someone on the other side of the fence that is honest enough to admit that it's a problem in the Republican party as well.

 

The sad thing is the "privilege" of voting seems to be tarnished. People don't put the real effort into deciding that they should, and take it for granted.

 

The ones that get me and this happens often around election time and I usually find myself in a position to say something, are the ones that are complaining about a canditate or the government. After listening to their complaints, it absolutely astounds me when I asked them if they voted and they say "NO".

 

Of course my reply is then they have no voice in the matter and thier argument is mute.

[AcesFull]

Great thread, CCH5432. The fewer people who pay taxes, the stronger the Democratic Party becomes and the weaker our economic system will grow. Grover Norquist hit the nail on the head when he coined the phrase the "Takings Coalition." That is the most eloquent description of liberals and those who empower them that I have ever heard.

[The Professor]

Yes it does, as Liberals think they know what is best for everyone.

 

You need socialist health care because you cannot make your own health care decisions.

 

 

They want the masses to accept handouts to become dependent on the government, therefore the government controls you.

And,.....a slick, and legal,... way to buy votes.

[toppop]

As we all, the top 50% of income earners in America pay 96% of the (income) taxes in this country.

 

I have a friend of mine that I drive to work who is surely in the bottom 50%. I was asking him about his political affiliation (he is very uninformed about politics) and he said he didn't really know what either side stands for.

 

From other conversations with him, I gathered some information. I asked him these questions:

 

Do you hate immigrants coming to this country and taking money back to their home country (Mexico)? Do believe that we should drill for oil in America? Do you hate high taxes?

 

All 3 questions he responded yes. I told him he was a conservative. But the final question got me thinking (as well as reading Leave Us Alone). If you were poor, why wouldn't you vote for the Democrats?

 

Knowing about economics, I understand that lower taxes (even though less entitlement programs) helps the poor more than those programs because of long-term economic growth, lower unemployment, more investment projects, entrepreneur opportunities, etc., and just raises the overall standard of life.

 

But if you were (or are) in that bottom 50%, why would you vote against free money? How do you get a poor person, who is getting handouts from the government, to switch sides?

 

A lot of politicians have also figured this out .

[lynks66]

Fact of the matter is, most people on welfare are working. However there is a myth that a lot of people choose to believe, and that is that being on welfare equals being lazy.

 

Do you have a link verifying that most people on welfare are working?

[halfback20]

Do you have a link verifying that most people on welfare are working?

 

No, I read it in a book. I had to read it for school. Can not remember the name of the book either, sorry.

[the mathemagician]

A friend of my is a single mom with a two-year old. In addition to caring for her baby, she cares for her ailing grandma, goes to school full-time, and holds down a full-time job caring for the disabled. Despite barely making ends meet, she receives less than $90 of food stamps a month. One-fourth of her allocation for food was cut recently because she was doing her job well and received a $.23 raise. She has some health concerns, but refuses to seek medical help because she can't afford health insurance and is not eligible for help. Just one of many such stories in our America...

[Hearsay]

A friend of my is a single mom with a two-year old. In addition to caring for her baby, she cares for her ailing grandma, goes to school full-time, and holds down a full-time job caring for the disabled. Despite barely making ends meet, she receives less than $90 of food stamps a month. One-fourth of her allocation for food was cut recently because she was doing her job well and received a $.23 raise. She has some health concerns, but refuses to seek medical help because she can't afford health insurance and is not eligible for help. Just one of many such stories in our America...

 

Does she also get AFDC? Is her housing subsidized? Does her child get full Passport coverage? Does she utilize her grandmother's social security? Is the child's daycare paid for? How much of her education is subsidized? What is the father paying her in child support? What other support systems does she have? Does she attend a church, and if so, do they help?

 

You know, I see and hear these stories myself on a daily basis. They are woven into the fabric of our lives. I certainly have compassion toward people like your friend. But there is a limit. She sounds industrious. How long should I support her. Until she feels comfortable? Does she expect to get taxpayer relief for her situation, and if so, for how long? Until grandma dies and she gets the house? Until her child is 18? Forever?

 

At some point, this country must start looking at those in need in this country and say 'we love you and want to help,' 'but we are giving you a time limit.' We want to give the soldiers in Iraq time-limits, we want people to change their habits and lives so we are not dependent on oil, fine, the sword cuts both ways. I expect folks on welfare to start doing better, start improving their situation. Don't have kids if you can't afford them. Don't goof off in school if you're not going to have family money to support you. Don't be going to college when what you need to be doing is making money until you've got enough saved to afford both. Stop writing cold checks at convenience stores so that noone gives you a bank account. Stop spreading your legs for the next guy who comes along who you think will support you. Stop burning bridges with your family because of some perceived slight they gave you when you were a misled teenager.

 

And this lesson applies equally to the wealthy and chuches and other similar entities in this country. We reformed welfare for you, now open up your wallets and help your neighbor. Churches, stop spending money on high-tech sound systems and expensive pastors and re-establish the old concept of the 'poor box.'

 

Poverty is as much a state of mind and pattern of behavior as it is a condition of bank balance.

[Hearsay]

No, I read it in a book. I had to read it for school. Can not remember the name of the book either, sorry.

 

This is highly dependent upon whether or not a recipient has any so-called "barriers to work." My recollection was that just over 50% of receipients who had no 'barriers to work' were actually working. However, among recipients who had a 'barrier to work,' the percentage working was in the teens. 'Barriers to work' included various disabilities, but also included having a child under 3, having no transportation, or supporting a sick family member.

 

The percentage of total receipients who work is nowhere near 50%, HB.

[the mathemagician]

Does she also get AFDC? Is her housing subsidized? Does her child get full Passport coverage? Does she utilize her grandmother's social security? Is the child's daycare paid for? How much of her education is subsidized? What is the father paying her in child support? What other support systems does she have? Does she attend a church, and if so, do they help?

You know, I see and hear these stories myself on a daily basis. They are woven into the fabric of our lives. I certainly have compassion toward people like your friend. But there is a limit. She sounds industrious. How long should I support her. Until she feels comfortable? Does she expect to get taxpayer relief for her situation, and if so, for how long? Until grandma dies and she gets the house? Until her child is 18? Forever?

 

At some point, this country must start looking at those in need in this country and say 'we love you and want to help,' 'but we are giving you a time limit.' We want to give the soldiers in Iraq time-limits, we want people to change their habits and lives so we are not dependent on oil, fine, the sword cuts both ways. I expect folks on welfare to start doing better, start improving their situation. Don't have kids if you can't afford them. Don't goof off in school if you're not going to have family money to support you. Don't be going to college when what you need to be doing is making money until you've got enough saved to afford both. Stop writing cold checks at convenience stores so that noone gives you a bank account. Stop spreading your legs for the next guy who comes along who you think will support you. Stop burning bridges with your family because of some perceived slight they gave you when you were a misled teenager.

 

And this lesson applies equally to the wealthy and chuches and other similar entities in this country. We reformed welfare for you, now open up your wallets and help your neighbor. Churches, stop spending money on high-tech sound systems and expensive pastors and re-establish the old concept of the 'poor box.'

 

Poverty is as much a state of mind and pattern of behavior as it is a condition of bank balance.

 

no

No

no(child has med. card)

no

no

she gets financial aid but forced to take loans to cover the total cost

$0

none

no

[halfback20]

This is highly dependent upon whether or not a recipient has any so-called "barriers to work." My recollection was that just over 50% of receipients who had no 'barriers to work' were actually working. However, among recipients who had a 'barrier to work,' the percentage working was in the teens. 'Barriers to work' included various disabilities, but also included having a child under 3, having no transportation, or supporting a sick family member.

 

The percentage of total receipients who work is nowhere near 50%, HB.

 

Then I guess the book I read was wrong. It had a bunch of "Myths about Welfare" listed in it and that was one of them.

[woodsrider]

no

No

no(child has med. card)

no

no

she gets financial aid but forced to take loans to cover the total cost

$0

none

no

How much does she make at her job? Where is her grandmothers social security check going?

[The Professor]

Does she also get AFDC? Is her housing subsidized? Does her child get full Passport coverage? Does she utilize her grandmother's social security? Is the child's daycare paid for? How much of her education is subsidized? What is the father paying her in child support? What other support systems does she have? Does she attend a church, and if so, do they help?

 

You know, I see and hear these stories myself on a daily basis. They are woven into the fabric of our lives. I certainly have compassion toward people like your friend. But there is a limit. She sounds industrious. How long should I support her. Until she feels comfortable? Does she expect to get taxpayer relief for her situation, and if so, for how long? Until grandma dies and she gets the house? Until her child is 18? Forever?

 

At some point, this country must start looking at those in need in this country and say 'we love you and want to help,' 'but we are giving you a time limit.' We want to give the soldiers in Iraq time-limits, we want people to change their habits and lives so we are not dependent on oil, fine, the sword cuts both ways. I expect folks on welfare to start doing better, start improving their situation. Don't have kids if you can't afford them. Don't goof off in school if you're not going to have family money to support you. Don't be going to college when what you need to be doing is making money until you've got enough saved to afford both. Stop writing cold checks at convenience stores so that noone gives you a bank account. Stop spreading your legs for the next guy who comes along who you think will support you. Stop burning bridges with your family because of some perceived slight they gave you when you were a misled teenager.

 

And this lesson applies equally to the wealthy and chuches and other similar entities in this country. We reformed welfare for you, now open up your wallets and help your neighbor. Churches, stop spending money on high-tech sound systems and expensive pastors and re-establish the old concept of the 'poor box.'

 

Poverty is as much a state of mind and pattern of behavior as it is a condition of bank balance.

I agree with your post, and especially the sentence I bolded. There are people in my area that have been on government assistance their entire lives, yet have 10 or 12 children. And as soon as their kids reach young adulthood, they start having kids and get on welfare too. It's a way of life passed down from one generation to another. There's no effort made to better themselves, move to where jobs are, learn a vocation, etc. Just wait for the checks, food cards (and many won't even grow a garden to supplement their cards), and other handouts, in the mail.

This is not always the the situation in every case, but it is still much too common.