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Posted on 01/16/2012 7:02:07 AM PST by Sopater
“...Is it really this simple to obtain welfare benefits here in the United States?...”
Yes, it is.
“That being said, the students I know who use food stamps are hard-working, productive individuals whose parents won’t compensate them for the costs of college....”
“Parents won’t compensate”? Wow. And, this from a college conservative.
Yes, and retired people living on Social Security are not eligible (at least in DE). But then again, isn’t it government’s goal to kill off all the old people by the time they’re 70 years old? No benefits, but plenty of stealing money from workers’ wallets. Plus a steady base of political support for RATs.
Just wait until DeathCare kicks in; they’ll have 2 for 1 sales at funeral homes. Soylent Green factories shoot up.
The fact that the author got what he got with NO IDENTIFICATION was very telling as well. The legal requirement that only US Citizens (or even legal residents) can get this aid is being blatently ignored. Every person who gets this aid is a vote for the Welfare State—something the bureaucrats and politicians understand very well. They have no problem building an army of parasites as long as they pull the right lever (legally or not) on Election day.
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Most welfare benefits are handled by each state. Which means there are at least 50 different data processing systems doling out the goodies. The last time I checked the federal governemnt does not do a very simple thing. Something that could be done for a few thousand dollars. Here it is:
1) Dump every SS# for every recipient in every state in to a data file.
2) Take the data files and find SS# duplicates.
3) Suspend benefits on all duplicate SS#’s until the recipient comes to the state in person and verifies their personal information.
The best thing they could do would be to simply connect all the various computers that run in every state and red flag SS# duplicates.
The states could do some other very simple things. For example, they could take the SS# and run it against credit data. If there is a loan on a vehicle or other things where the person has the income for paying for such stuff kick them off the dole.
The amount of fraud and theft is staggering. The states know it and the federal government knows it. But the people involved don’t care about that. It is not their money. In fact, they don’t even see it as money. Their mindset is so bizarre you would think they live on another planet. Believe me, I have been in countless DHS offices* and know this for a fact. There are hardly any controls in place to watch the money. And if you suggest ways to implement controls they fall on deaf ears. Why? Because a lot of people have government jobs who give out all this free stuff.
* Usually I was the minority in the building.
I’ve always said that I would teach my children the value of a dollar and the value of an education by letting them earn money for college and then paying for it.
My oldest son worked for 2 years after highschool as a laborer in a factory and saved all his money and now he’s in college studying engineering. My second son is currently working in the same factory saving money to go to college in a year or so himself... Such good boys. :-)
For most people going to college means they have made the decision they want a traditional job working for someone else. They might as well get used to the idea of working. A college degree for someone allergic to work is a pointless waste of time and resources.
They don’t even care about the stigma any more. So many of them use them that it is now a status symbol among the slothful.
And, such a great parent!
With UPC codes it would be very simple to set up the EBT cards to authorize ONLY “appropriate” food/goods for the users....rice, beans, fresh fruit, vegetables, chicken, tuna, diapers...etc.
If you wanted to cut them by 90% add the requirement of "volunteering" for working on public works improvements a certain number of hours per week - as little as 5 hours a week would probably be enough to make the majority quit.
The Safety Net has become a Hammock.
In other news, Water is Wet.
Give out "commodities."
Dried beans and peas, rice, canned tuna, peanut butter, flour, corn meal, powdered milk, raisins, cheese, maybe some other canned foods. I suppose these were purchased from farmers or food processors by the government and given out monthly. This was subsistence food. You might not eat royally, but you would eat well enough to keep body and soul together. That is what was done back in the 1960's.
I remember it well because I had relatives on "welfare" who got these government commodities. Some of the items they "wouldn't eat." These items were given to my mother by the relative and we ate them. (Our menu choices at home were "take it or leave it.")
If anyone is truly in need of the food and assistance, they will take the commodities. If they refuse this type of assistance, then they aren't in that much need. It's pretty hard to trade your dried beans or rice for drugs, too.
I suspect that going back to the commodities would decrease the amount of $$ spent on "food assistance" dramatically.
Yep, I’ve mentioned on related threads before that the food stamp program should only be good for basic staples.
Of course, I’d feel kinda bad taking away Swordfish and caviar from the little people. Wait, no I wouldn’t.
People with children in their households, such as grandparents taking care of grandchildren, usually qualify for more than older adults living alone or older couples.
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