what is wrong with Americans today? Or is it me?

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I'm happy for all of you that you can make it without gov. assistance and I realize there are a lot of people abusing the system, but.....Without social programs like unemployment and welfare large portions of this country would be third world at best. A lot of people really do use the assistance responsibly and those that don't probably wouldn't bother to get a job anyway. I agree these programs should be restructured as so many are taking advantage, but personally I like being able to walk down the street without seeing crushing poverty and starving children. Maybe a trip to the slums of Mexico or Brazil would change some opinions here.
 
I see this from both sides of the fence. I have a son with developmental disabilities AND hubby and I own a small business. The thing is we wouldn't need aid for our son IF we weren't being taxed to death!
 
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The irresponsible use of these government programs and ever increasing burdon of taxes on the working class is making us a third world country. Like I said, nobody minds helping out the person who lost their job or was injured. Heck, I don't mind helping anybody in a temporary fix. I do mind helping people that have made a career out of government assistance. I do mind supporting people that keep having kids that they can't afford, etc. Too many people are sucking the system dry. Welfare should be a last resort. A lunch lady once told me that she monitors the lunchroom during the free breakfast program at school. A lot of the kids are sitting there eating their free breakfast talking and texting on their cell phones. I once saw a segment on TV (60 minute or something like it) where they surveyed people in the government food line. They asked one question, "Do you have cable TV." Over half said yes. If people can afford cell phones, internet, cable TV, junk food, designer clothes, pets, etc. they sure as heck don't need welfare. They need a better set of priorities.
 
I feel where you guys are coming from. I just finished with vet school and I now owe the government $140k in student loans. DH worked to support us while I was in school and I even worked part time when I was able to. We bought a small house with 2 acres so that we can live within our means. Soon after I graduated DH got laid off. He has found another job making 1/2 of what he was making, but we still pay all our bills. We were responsible enough to wait until after I finished school to start a family.

The most frustrating part to me is all the clients that come in with NO money and EXPECT me to treat their pet for FREE!! Are they insane?? They give me a guilt trip about the economy sucking. Yeah, I get, my husband got laid off too, but he didn't sit arond whining about it. He went and found another job, making 1/2 of what he was. We still have to pay our bills!! I'm not running a charity for goodness sake. If you have a pet suck it up and be responsible...if you can't then you need to rehome it. And don't even get me started on people having children they can't afford!
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blaming and condemning the wrong people

the people that "run the programs" are to blame.

if there is a loophole, some people will take it.

that is what happened. welfare and all were to be termporary fixes...limited time on benefits. now it is a lifestyle.

so don't blame those getting the check----blame the ones allowing it.
 
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This brought back memories of when I worked in a grocery store and I'd see these women dripping in gold, buying their WIC items and with their own money buying filet mignon, wine, beer and climbing into a 'vette or Escalade.

I had the same experience, working my way through college. I would eat whatever was cheap and on sale, and I'd have to bag groceries for welfare queens. They'd buy what food stamps allowed out of one cart, and have all the expensive stuff food stamps wouldn't cover, plus a few cartons of smokes in another cart ... and would whip out a roll of bills that would have paid my rent for months to buy the smokes.
 
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Well, now my "crazy" idea sounds OK to me: What if healthclubs hooked up treadmills that did the same work of windmills or riverdam turbines? Give able-bodied youth something to do with their time AND generate electricity? OR, create "community service" or "work-release" programs which could incorporate an option to help generate municipal energy? Treadmill turbine turners?

Is there anybody out there who could make this happen? I see it as a volunteer situation, but given the popularity of lookin' great and bein' buff, there would likely be thousands of unemployed volunteers with the time and desire to put in 40 minutes a day on a treadmill to light up their town (and turn on their TVs, run the fridge....etc...)

This could be a healthy option for able-bodied folk, and I really LIKE the idea of streetsweeping (or ANY community service) as an alternative to the depressing obesity option; sit home waiting for a check, too depressed to do anything more than cable tv and cheetos.....
 
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