Our welfare system recipients.

[cb1000rider]

NPR? Obama's and the Democratic party's wholly owned radio station? While it may be true in this instance, I retain my skepticism of anything that comes from NPR.

NPR receives government funding under the current administration just like it did under Republican administrations. Its just more spin calling it "wholly owned". Why not stick to the facts instead of stirring the pot?
Media outlets are never completely balanced and NPR is known for some more liberal views, that I give you.. And you should be suspicious of the source always - but what is it in that report that you don't believe? It's highly critical of the system under the current administration, although it's a problem that has been building for decades.

Did you read the article? That "liberal" media outlet is providing statistics on a problem that is eating away at our budget. If you want to harp about welfare that's fine, but it's not the top of my priority list. I'm sure I can find the same information with conservative media outlets, if that helps.

[cb1000rider]

A non-responsive answer even if true, which it isn't. You should try living in the Rio Grande Valley and keeping your eyes open --you'll see a quite different picture than the Democratic party line you're spouting here.

I'm not sure that diving through the Rio Grande Valley counts as objective data collection on welfare recipients and ownership of large TVs. If you've got some data, show me... I'm convinced by data and I'm likely to change my opinion.

I'm critical of just looking at welfare. I think that's a mistake to rail against that when we've got bigger issues. All of the disability recipients that I know have nice TVs and certainly the income and lifestyle provided are much higher.

[Cedar Park Dad]

Monthly drug test to anyone receiving government assistance would be nice also.

Wait you're going to drug test everyone that works for Northrop Grumman and General Motors or just the Board of Directors?

[VMI77]

NPR? Obama's and the Democratic party's wholly owned radio station? While it may be true in this instance, I retain my skepticism of anything that comes from NPR.

NPR receives government funding under the current administration just like it did under Republican administrations. Its just more spin calling it "wholly owned". Why not stick to the facts instead of stirring the pot?
Media outlets are never completely balanced and NPR is known for some more liberal views, that I give you.. And you should be suspicious of the source always - but what is it in that report that you don't believe? It's highly critical of the system under the current administration, although it's a problem that has been building for decades.

Did you read the article? That "liberal" media outlet is providing statistics on a problem that is eating away at our budget. If you want to harp about welfare that's fine, but it's not the top of my priority list. I'm sure I can find the same information with conservative media outlets, if that helps.

You should read what I said: "while it may be true in this instance......" Yeah, it's government funded and shouldn't be. The fact is it supports Obama and his administration. Yes, wholly owned is hyperbole --in the bag for Obama might have been better phrasing. And I used to listen to NPR regularly....I listened as it went from an irritating liberal bias to unbearable childish propaganda and all out collectivism. I also used to listen to Rush Limbaugh as he drifted from occasionally irritating sophistry to all out and childish neo-con propaganda. The fact is, there is virtually nothing readily available on the radio or television that isn't junior high school level propaganda of one kind of another (in which category I include advertising in its various forms).

[jester]

Monthly drug test to anyone receiving government assistance would be nice also.

That's a good idea. Using them instead of lab rats will give PETA one less thing to whine about. Plus there's less risk of the researchers becoming too attached to the test subjects.

[VMI77]

A non-responsive answer even if true, which it isn't. You should try living in the Rio Grande Valley and keeping your eyes open --you'll see a quite different picture than the Democratic party line you're spouting here.

I'm not sure that diving through the Rio Grande Valley counts as objective data collection on welfare recipients and ownership of large TVs. If you've got some data, show me... I'm convinced by data and I'm likely to change my opinion.

I'm critical of just looking at welfare. I think that's a mistake to rail against that when we've got bigger issues. All of the disability recipients that I know have nice TVs and certainly the income and lifestyle provided are much higher.

Did you intend "diving" to be driving or living? I lived there for around 20 years. I went to high school there. I have relatives still living there. One of my relatives is a nurse in Brownsville, and she can tell you how many illegals get free treatment for just about everything, and often better treatment than working people, especially working Hispanic-Americans. Those anchor babies you referred to, we pay for them to be born here. We're also paying for educating the children of illegals, and not just anchor babies. Many live across the border and come to school in the US. Schools have doubled, tripled, and quadrupled in size to serve the children of illegals. Have you heard of "Colonias?" Another scam foisted on both illegals and the taxpayers by corrupt developers. And welfare fraud and corruption are endemic. Illegal voting is prolific.

As far as your theory that it doesn't really impact the vote for Republicans, take a look at the election map for 2012: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_St ... exas,_2012

The greater the Hispanic population (including illegals ....sorry, undocumented Democrats), the higher the vote for Obama --always a clear majority and as high as 90% in some counties, the same pattern seen for the majority of border counties and even adjacent counties near the border.

But I'm not really railing against welfare; it's more of a social and moral problem than a financial one; and it is not our biggest problem. In any case it would do no good to attack immorality and corruption at the bottom: the only way to defeat corruption is to strike it down at the top.

[cb1000rider]

1) I completely agree that illegals receive free emergency medical care. That's part of our policy. We're also providing for people on disability and people on welfare. Trust me, I'm not happy about it as long term it's likely to bankrupt the retirement of a lot of older Americans. That problem is one cause of Obamacare. I only ask that if we're going to speak about a topic that we balance it. Illegals provide economic upside that isn't trivial. It impacts your pocket as well as mine. Without understanding the site picture completely, it's hard to come up with a rational solution that addresses the problem rather than squashing a single symptom.

2) The welfare provided to families with one US citizen child is an issue. Again, that's not what I railed against... I'm against having it presented as "illegals cross the border and go on welfare" as that the factual truth. Lots of people believe that and repeat it on face value. And not talking about the conditions by which - the loopholes - that are being exploited, we're missing solutions that are perhaps much easier than 100% security of thousands of miles of border in a deficit economy. I have no objection to stronger border security or as big a fence as you can build, as long as you're not in a deficit budget. Until then, I think there are easier solutions that are fiscally responsible.

3) And I agree, Hispanics as a whole do vote democrat more frequently. I believe there is definitely some party motivation there to keep the Hispanic vote happy. However, if we have amnesty again like we did in the 1980s under Republican Regan, the result was not a land side for the democratic party... We've got data and facts around it. I object to the fear mongering not presenting realistic data or facts.

These guys that are telling half-truths are doing themselves and this county a disservice. They're dividers. They're the ones that make things polar. I'm not so centrist that I think we all have to get along, but I'd like to see more objective discussion of facts over presenting sensationalized headlines that are there to promote an agenda.

[suthdj]

Everyone who needs/gets public assistance should be required to donate an equitable number of hours of labor each month to some community program that needs help. If you don't want a "job" fine. You should still have to do something that gives back to the society you want to treat you like a dependent. I know this will never happen, but it's nice to wish for.
The thing that bothers me is it's the worst of the mob that steps up for free stuff that would turn to violent riots if the gravy train ever stopped due to our nation finally collapsing under the weight of it's own financial stupidity.

The streets in China (main streets through towns, highways) are very clean these days.

Just a personal observation.

[ Image ]

Want a check? Not disabled? Grab a broom. Get to work.

And what is better is I saw so many of Chinese helping to keep them employed, 5' from a garbage can and still just throw it on the ground.

[Abraham]

What's new here?

Lowlife's/Deadbeats/Goldbrickers love freebies. Self respect is nonexistent in their world. I should know, I have family members who work (almost the only time...) at gaming the system. Embarrassed about welfare and other freebies they don't qualify for - nah... They think I'm a sucker for not taking advantage, though I don't qualify by leaps and bounds...

Make it more difficult for these theives to game the system - cuz you aint gonna stop it, you can only slow it down.

Of course, if such could be harshly criminalized when caught, these miscreants could be sentenced to breaking rocks on Devil's Island or its equivalent. My guess is it would slow their sleazy activities waaaaaaaaay down.

[bizarrenormality]

The system is corrupt by design. Follow the money.

[Jaguar]

A non-responsive answer even if true, which it isn't. You should try living in the Rio Grande Valley and keeping your eyes open --you'll see a quite different picture than the Democratic party line you're spouting here.

I'm not sure that diving through the Rio Grande Valley counts as objective data collection on welfare recipients and ownership of large TVs. If you've got some data, show me... I'm convinced by data and I'm likely to change my opinion.

I'm critical of just looking at welfare. I think that's a mistake to rail against that when we've got bigger issues. All of the disability recipients that I know have nice TVs and certainly the income and lifestyle provided are much higher.

My brother is a disability recipient, and he has a house and nice TV. However, SSD is not a needs based system, he would be disabled regardless of how much money he has. The money he gets every year from SS does not go far, little is left over after property taxes and insurance.

I went to the Social Security office in Fort Worth after my mom died so I could be set up as his representative payee and boy did it open my eyes. There are people who do this professionally, and they absolutely control that money and the people receiving it. After talking to the case worker for a few minutes and told her our situation, she was so happy to see the system working as it was supposed to without someone gaming the system she had me approved while still waiting on a copy of his birth certificate (for some reason, they had his DOB wrong, for the last 45 years).

If the whole program died tomorrow it wouldn't be that big of a deal for me, he has some money stashed away and I can call him a dependent and claim him on my taxes. It would be missed, but not the end of the world and all the professional gamers would have to find a new line of scam.

[chuck j]

I and I believe most of the taxpayers in this country would not begrudge a fellow American help if it were truly needed and justified , being too lazy to work is not justification . I manage a small auto related service shop , I have one 21 year old tech that I had to to paperwork (bound by law to do so ) to apply for food stamps , his live in girlfriend has 2 children , one by him , she gets checks . He makes a draw on his wages every 2 days and draws it all , it goes for beer , smokes , $10.00 lunches , sound equipment for the Jeep he just bought that will be repo'd within 3 months (soon as they can figure out where he's hiding it ) , he bum's smokes all day because he's broke . Got another shop hand thats 51 years old that has to shut down 3 times a day to breath in his 'breathalizer' cellphone to stay out of jail , he get's food stamps , has 6 children , just got papers on him from the state to with hold child support for another child , he didnt show up last saturday to work because he found a new girlfriend, his oldest son in east Texas is raising his last 2 minor children . Had a hand a while back that was shacked up to the mother of his child , she drew all kinds of checks and got section eight housing , his hobby was to get the telephone book and sit in the waiting room at lunch and eat while he called churches , shriners , anyone that would listen and beg money . I am burnt out with these people .!

[VoiceofReason]

Just a couple of things to consider.

Take a look at how much this country gives away in foreign aid and to what countries.

I have known a few people that have applied for SS disability and it is not quite as easy as some claim. Some I know with legitimate claims have been turned down, have had to get a lawyer, then are granted a disability, and have to pay the lawyer.

One woman I know can hardly walk. She walks bent way over and must use a cane. She did not finish high school, worked most of her life in service work and has been told by SS she can find a job. Who would hire her.

Get injured on the job, file for workman’s comp, get fired and you will play H finding another job. Even if it was a legitimate claim. Your insurance will not pay if they find out it was an on the job injury, so some people have to file for Workmans Comp to pay the hospital and medical bills.

Over 45 and lose your job? Good luck finding another. Of course it would be against the law to discriminate because of age so you will be turned down for any number of other reasons.

Take a look at how much this country gives away in foreign aid and to what countries. Tell me what we should do with the truly disabled and unemployable.

[Pacifist]

I and I believe most of the taxpayers in this country would begrudge a fellow American help if it were truly needed...

I think you meant "would not" begrudge, rather than "would," but correct me if I'm wrong, and in that case, I agree.

But the simple fact is that the Federal government has no Constitutional business being in the business of charity, which is what welfare, food stamps, disability, Medicaid, and about 90% of the other federal take-from-me-to-give-to-others programs are all about.

Charity is the business of the most local source possible and available, which includes my church, your church, me, my neighbor and other local sources, but never includes the Feds.

[03Lightningrocks]

The joke is on all of us. It isn't charity, welfare or even being kind to the downtrodden. It is income redistribution, pure and simple. All the other terms we have been brainwashed to use are just to make us all feel good about socialism.

I would love to know how many complaining on this thread receive or have ever received earned income credit on a tax return. If you have... you have no right to complain about others getting minze.