Re: Here you go...Lawmaker wants drug tests for welfare recipients Archived Message
Posted by GreggA on January 18, 2011, 12:17 pm, in reply to "Re: Here you go...Lawmaker wants drug tests for welfare recipients"
Thank you for the clarification. Maybe part of the problem is the government has gone so far to make people on Link not feel stigmatized by using the card that those of us who only observe don't always make the correct assumptions. I will admit that we used this aide once for about three months because of financial issues brought about by the economy and family health issues. We applied to make sure my kids had food. Using the card was a complete embarassment as a man, a provider, and because of my general feelings on the whole system. We were given more credit on the card than we ever required to feed our family prior and was shocked that there was nothing we weren't allowed to purchase at the store, such as expensive meats and such. Had I been single with no children, would have made do with Romen Noodles and Kool-Aide, just like college until things got better. We ended up taking the excess money and stocking up our freezer. When times were tough later that year. We never requested additional assistance and used what we had acquired earlier. We were off the assistance in three months, I think. Though thankful for the help, because of my children, it really opened my eyes has to how it can be abused due to a lack of oversight once in the program. we also never applied for financial assistance, though we were told we qualified. I just couldn't bring myself to do it. I would have never had the nerve to walk into QT and even attempt to buy a fountain soda so my assumption was due to my observations, not experience. My wife saw a lady in ShopNSave the other day that appeared drunk and was arguing with checker because she couldn't buy alcohol on her link card. I don't believe I had one beer during that time, I had given up my tobacco and many other luxuries before we got to that point and did so until we were back on our feet. For me it was easier to give those things up than to accept the financial assistance to pay my utility bills. Even though we qualified, once we recieved the help for groceries, we were able to cover our other necessities. None of these life experiences make me a better person than anyone else. I think it just makes the point that we should not hamper the successful by unfairly redistributing wealth to those who consistantly make poor life decisions. The experience did humble me and soften my opinions somewhat, but I still believe these programs should be a safety net, not a lifestyle. I do see how some could fall into that trap without any consequinces for taking the aide. We should all be taxed fairly to fund these safety nets as nobody is above ending up there once in their life. But once there, you should not be discouraged to climb back up the ladder of success. Though my family had never received any type of aide, to my knowledge, I have heard similar stories from many people over the years who were both thankful it was there and never prouder than the day they didn't need it anymore. That is what is means to me to be an American, compasionate, proud, and to never allow ourselves to be the obstacle that stands in the way of acheiving success in our lives.
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Message Thread: | This response ↓
- Here you go...Lawmaker wants drug tests for welfare recipients - busymom January 17, 2011, 5:26 pm
- Re: Here you go...Lawmaker wants drug tests for welfare recipients - gcbilliardclub January 17, 2011, 5:35 pm
- Re: Here you go...Lawmaker wants drug tests for welfare recipients - gcbilliardclub January 17, 2011, 6:15 pm
- Re: Here you go...Lawmaker wants drug tests for welfare recipients - 3Dee January 18, 2011, 10:19 am
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- Re: Here you go...Lawmaker wants drug tests for welfare recipients - machine January 18, 2011, 12:20 pm
- Re: Here you go...Lawmaker wants drug tests for welfare recipients - granitegurl January 18, 2011, 2:34 pm
- Re: Here you go...Lawmaker wants drug tests for welfare recipients - catching12 January 19, 2011, 10:19 am
- Re: Here you go...Lawmaker wants drug tests for welfare recipients - dogwhisperer2003 January 20, 2011, 11:38 am
- Re: Here you go...Lawmaker wants drug tests for welfare recipients - Liberal January 21, 2011, 11:34 am
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