This is a clear case of picking and choosing what programs need people to jump through hoops either before or afterward in order to receive benefits. And people pay taxes whether it's state tax, federal taxes or the many others. I am not "missing the point" here, you seem to ignore the key fact that you think there's some large looming group of people adding nothing to society and continually sucking up tax payers dollars. These types of programs do need reform to adjust for corruption and length, but to generalize them how you do is drastically misguided as is the services. And to attempt to say they owe us anything is no different from asking any other member of our society to pay back in some fashion with services. If your argument is about cleaning up communities through service, look at the guilty in jail. If your argument is about saving tax payer funds, there's tons of more widely abused and misappropriated funds in defense programs, lowering of corporate tax levels or tax codes for the rich (just to name a few). Your suggestion is a misguided answer and representation of facts and like many things in our nation, we love to point the finger at a simplistic and easily target to blame and scapegoat as a cause to a problem. It's easy to digest and repeat compared to doing detailed analysis of why things are the way they are.
I never said we can pick and choose which programs collect taxes. We do vote on items do we not?
And again you keep missing the point. People on welfare are GIVEN Gov. money without putting anything into the system. Housewives of 50 years ago did not receive a gov. check weekly and were not given food/clothes/houses/. You can't really compare a woman's role in a different era to a welfare recipients. Woman's roles were different back then and still gave back to society by raising their kids as a full time job.
CONservative governMENt
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
THey sure as hell do OWE society as society is paying/making it able for them to live thier lives. Welfare puts food/housing/clothes to people who pay no taxes and continually destroy once nice neighborhoods. Look at the stats 20% are on welfare for over 5 years. That is a college career. People seem oblivious to the fact that nothing other than themselves(sadly maybe some disabiliites) is stoping them from reaching success. Colleges now lower the admission standard for minorities.
I assume you were being sarcastic here^^, or just talking about the very narrow personal experiences you have encountered in your city?
How do you figure you had more opportunity than most poor welfare kids to succeed? I am a realist, and I listen to my wifes stories everyday when she comes home because she works in an innercity school. These kids are raised on entitlment programs, and expect everything. My wifes school provides Breakfast, lunch, dinner for free. Clothes for free. And what do the kids say when they don't have a back pack or school supplies "my mom said the school is supposed to provide that". I have said it before in other threads but I bought the entire 6th grade their school supplies. I have gone on 2 series of house visits with my wife in the inner city. next time I go I should take pictures. These same parents that can't afford pencils/paper can afford 50" TV, Blue Ray, PS3, Leather couches, etc... You can go ahead and think that everybody on welfare is poor because they were never given a chance, but the opportunities are out there, its no ones fault if a kid does not apply himself in school. Its his fault.
Seriously? You're kidding right? You dont think role models exist do you?
Your examples of poor families with 50 inch TVs and leather couches are not the norm btw of welfare recepients just because you've seen it once or twice.
How do you figure you had more opportunity than most poor welfare kids to succeed? I am a realist, and I listen to my wifes stories everyday when she comes home because she works in an innercity school. These kids are raised on entitlment programs, and expect everything. My wifes school provides Breakfast, lunch, dinner for free. Clothes for free. And what do the kids say when they don't have a back pack or school supplies "my mom said the school is supposed to provide that". I have said it before in other threads but I bought the entire 6th grade their school supplies. I have gone on 2 series of house visits with my wife in the inner city. next time I go I should take pictures. These same parents that can't afford pencils/paper can afford 50" TV, Blue Ray, PS3, Leather couches, etc... You can go ahead and think that everybody on welfare is poor because they were never given a chance, but the opportunities are out there, its no ones fault if a kid does not apply himself in school. Its his fault.
i had more opportunities than the kids on my bus route because i
1. had 2 parents
2, had 2 parents working.
3. was not on government assistance.
so i immediately had an advantage over my friends who lived with a single mom and 3 kids and no adult male in their life to help pay for things or be a father figure. they had to live on a single income and were on government assistance. they were born into that situation. real life is not like the fucking "blind side" movie where sports is a means to get out of poverty. those situations are the extreme exception to the reality. you call yourself a relaist but you have only seen it from your wife's experiences in one city. i have worked in three large metropolitan areas and poverty, housing projects, and lack of opportunity is the same everywhere in general, but places like detroit are worse and have had an economy in the crapper for years now. yes, some kids are raised on entitlement programs, but it is laughable for you to assume that most kids are because of your limited experience on your 2 house visits. i can assure you that the people i have seen can not pay the gas bill to keep the heat on, or they can't pay the eletric bill to even turn on that 50" tv you think they might have. there is no debating with you. nobody said that the kid is not to blame for failing in school. the society and community fails that kid. we need to look at the causes of poverty before we can propose any solutions. that would be like trying to cure cancer without knowing what causes it or how the tumors grow. it is not as easy as you say it is. and i think it is a mistake to put all people on gov't assistance to work doing community service 30 hours a week for the meager benefits that they get. averaged out over a year they would be doing shitty work for less than minimum wage.
i am still waiting to hear from you how a kid in the ghetto has the same opportunity as the suburban son of an attorney. the former is condemned to attend a shitty inner city school where there is no funding for things like essential or extracurricular programs, teachers are undeerpaid so as a result are apathetic, school board members are corrupt, and excellence is not exactly encouraged, while the latter goes to a comfortably middle class school that has no lack of funding, higher teacher salaries, and many extracurrlcular activities to keep kids engaged and for the most part encouraged and less apt to get into trouble. you tell me both examples have the same opportunities to have success...
"You can tell the greatness of a man by what makes him angry." - Lincoln
gimmesometruth27 - this discussion could all be boiled down to one very misguided point... people who have nothing or need assistance are there because they're lazy or don't do what they're supposed too or deserve their situation or need to pull themselves up by the boot straps. It's such a lazy, idiotic and unenlightened opinion, which basically is probably a half a step about racism on the ignorance scale. Educate yourself to the details, facts and causes of problems, then talk about blame or ways to change it.. not simply scapegoat based on bias, generalizations and half-truthes.. which is what most people in our society do. It's just easier and simpler.
CONservative governMENt
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
your wonderful proposed solution does not take into account the working poor, the laid off, the disabled and handicapped, the single moms getting assistance to buy food for their kids, etc. the argument people are saying now is that the parent/parents being out of the house working and making enough to barely pay the rent and keep the lights on can not be a good parent or example for their children because they are gone too much,. ever see that part of fahrenheit 9/11? now are you proposing taking these same people out of the household for another 20-30 hours a week on top of what they are already working??? good luck with that. watch the crime rate and juvenile delenquency skyrocket then. then people will complain because cities are now taking cops off of the streets due to budget cuts, but that is another issue for another thread....
sure some people scam the system, but most of the people i see in my office that are below the poverty line getting assistance are working poor or laid off, or disabled. this proposed solution does not take into account how they got poor to begin with. were they born into it? were they comfortable middle class and bankrupted by an unexpected medical expense that was denied coverage by insurance? were they made disabled and unable to work? or were they irresponsible with credit cards and financially ruined that way? were they caught up in a shitty ARM that reset and made them lose everything? every situation is different and you can not paint with a broad brush and mandate anything like this. your proposed solution only looks at the ends, and in no way takes into account the things that cause people to become dependent on the government. unless you do that, no amount of overzealous rule making or kicking people off of assistance is going to change anything. i dare you to go about mandating community service or cutting aid to these people. it will only increase problems. the money you save denying benefits had better be used to have more police on the streets, as crime will definitely increase.
You do realize you could train some of them to operate a daycare or an after school program, etc?
Like title says, should people receiving welfare benefits be required to do community service? Think about it, no one is spending 40+ hours a week looking for jobs/work. What about requiring them to do 20-30 hours of community service a week given out by the local city. It would be a good way to give an incentive to find work. It could also save some tax payer money. Maybe some of those poor innercity areas would not look so bad if all the people on welfare were required to clean the areas up, maintain the playgrounds. What do you think?
if you included corporations who get public dollars via tax breaks and subsidies, then I'm all for it...
it really sounds like you're wanting a public works program, which is very FDR of you...
I wonder how those who are disabled, both physically and mentally, fit into your proposed public works program...
Pretty sure most of the disabled people would find it pretty offensive that you seem to think they can't do anything.
My point is it is better for the soul and spirit to be busy...this how we learn.
That work is enjoyment not a punishment.
This something the physically and mentally challenged have learned,
to be contributing to society builds character, gives life purpose.
It makes a person feel good to complete a challenge.
An idle mind and body is no favor we are doing for those on welfare.
There is proof that happiness comes from helping others, as well as helping a greater cause.
For anyone to shoot down volunteerism for the sake of free govt handouts is nuts!
How easy it is to forget that our very nature is to nurture and take care of each other. Not to mention, that through volunteerism, job opportunities arise, you meet new friends, and you learn empathy.
Exactly why is the question asked (the title of the thread) so ridiculous to some of you here?
I think some hear think the govt would be doing them an injustice
requiring the able bodied recipient to perform community service
when in fact it would help build a better character,
a happier more satisfied individual and a better society all round.
As I mentioned earlier
An idle mind and body is no favor we are doing for those on welfare
My point is it is better for the soul and spirit to be busy...this how we learn.
That work is enjoyment not a punishment.
This something the physically and mentally challenged have learned,
to be contributing to society builds character, gives life purpose.
It makes a person feel good to complete a challenge.
An idle mind and body is no favor we are doing for those on welfare.
There is proof that happiness comes from helping others, as well as helping a greater cause.
For anyone to shoot down volunteerism for the sake of free govt handouts is nuts!
How easy it is to forget that our very nature is to nurture and take care of each other. Not to mention, that through volunteerism, job opportunities arise, you meet new friends, and you learn empathy.
:thumbup: someone who agrees community service is a positive thing!
My point is it is better for the soul and spirit to be busy...this how we learn.
That work is enjoyment not a punishment.
This something the physically and mentally challenged have learned,
to be contributing to society builds character, gives life purpose.
It makes a person feel good to complete a challenge.
An idle mind and body is no favor we are doing for those on welfare.
There is proof that happiness comes from helping others, as well as helping a greater cause.
For anyone to shoot down volunteerism for the sake of free govt handouts is nuts!
How easy it is to forget that our very nature is to nurture and take care of each other. Not to mention, that through volunteerism, job opportunities arise, you meet new friends, and you learn empathy.
:thumbup: someone who agrees community service is a positive thing!
I just can't imagine it ever to be a 'bad' thing. For anyone.
Who do you think keeps track of current volunteers? Or do they all just show up and do whatever they want? It could be as simple as a badge/id/sign in sheet at the place of community service commitment
huh...what are you talking about...?
you proposed something, act as if it's all simple, then type some gibberish...
how much do you think this program will actually cost...?
Like I said before how would it work any differently than current volunteer programs. It seems pretty simple to me. I don't see where the confusion is, what are you have a hard time understanding?[/quote]
if you add 1000's of people to the mix of "community service" those running those agencies will be overwhelmed and unable to manage...I guess that's hard for some to understand...I love how you think this is so simple...
do you feel those corporations that receive corporate welfare should be included in your proposal or just the lazy bums...?
Like title says, should people receiving welfare benefits be required to do community service? Think about it, no one is spending 40+ hours a week looking for jobs/work. What about requiring them to do 20-30 hours of community service a week given out by the local city. It would be a good way to give an incentive to find work. It could also save some tax payer money. Maybe some of those poor innercity areas would not look so bad if all the people on welfare were required to clean the areas up, maintain the playgrounds. What do you think?
if you included corporations who get public dollars via tax breaks and subsidies, then I'm all for it...
it really sounds like you're wanting a public works program, which is very FDR of you...
I wonder how those who are disabled, both physically and mentally, fit into your proposed public works program...
Pretty sure most of the disabled people would find it pretty offensive that you seem to think they can't do anything.
Cincy here's exactly why this is such a screwed up country. The same people who vow for tighter regulation of these programs aren't really out to put people back to work - it boils down to nothing but scapegoating them cause "they're sucking up my tax dollars by sitting on their asses and collecting checks". If we instituted your below idea, people on benefits in need of assistance and put them to work for the government, many call this "socialism" and that is a terrible thing to many. That's the reality of politics and society in the US, we're not here to fix things, just hand out blame cause it's all got to be someone else's fault.
You do realize you could train some of them to operate a daycare or an after school program, etc?
CONservative governMENt
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
To answer the OP's question. YES. But more importantly, these programs NEED TO BE REGULATED. Unemployment fraud, welfare fraud, medicaid fraud, medicare fraud, all cost the nation hundreds of billions of dollars a year.
U.S. charges 111 in largest Medicare fraud crackdown
Thu Feb 17, 3:52 pm ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government on Thursday charged 111 doctors, nurses and other defendants with Medicare crime schemes that exceeded $225 million in false billings, the largest health care fraud crackdown so far.
Attorney General Eric Holder and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the charges in the latest of a series of cases brought by the Obama administration as health care fraud has emerged as an important political issue.
About 45 million elderly and disabled Americans are enrolled in taxpayer-funded Medicare plans, which have come under fire from critics who say the government pays too much to the companies running them and that they are subject to fraud.
Medicare reform represented a key part of the sweeping year-old health care law championed by Democratic President Barack Obama, but opposed by many Republicans in Congress.
The latest charges covered defendants in nine cities. In addition to arrests, law enforcement agents also executed 16 search warrants.
The defendants were charged various crimes, including conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program, false claims, kickbacks and money laundering, administration officials said.
They said the alleged schemes involved various medical treatments, tests and services, such as home health care, physical and occupational therapy and medical equipment.
"Although today marks a critical step forward in combating and deterring illegal activity, our work is far from over," Holder said. Fraud has accounted for as much as an estimated $60 billion a year in the Medicare program.
A top FBI official, Shawn Henry, said 2,600 health care fraud cases were under investigation and that organized crime groups have been increasingly linked to the alleged schemes.
Sebelius said $4 billion was recovered last year, and the government's Medicare Fraud Strike Force was recently expanded to nine cities, with the addition of Dallas and Chicago.
(Reporting by James Vicini; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
Like title says, should people receiving welfare benefits be required to do community service? Think about it, no one is spending 40+ hours a week looking for jobs/work. What about requiring them to do 20-30 hours of community service a week given out by the local city. It would be a good way to give an incentive to find work. It could also save some tax payer money. Maybe some of those poor innercity areas would not look so bad if all the people on welfare were required to clean the areas up, maintain the playgrounds. What do you think?
why doesnt the city employ someone to maintain the playgrounds and clean the streets? why should it fall to welfare recipients?
years ago street cleaning and playground maintainence were actual jobs.. but since due to 'budget constraints' these basic jobs have been curtailed or even eliminated. and now the city looks towards a cheap alternative. one they dont necessarily have to pay for.
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
Like title says, should people receiving welfare benefits be required to do community service? Think about it, no one is spending 40+ hours a week looking for jobs/work. What about requiring them to do 20-30 hours of community service a week given out by the local city. It would be a good way to give an incentive to find work. It could also save some tax payer money. Maybe some of those poor innercity areas would not look so bad if all the people on welfare were required to clean the areas up, maintain the playgrounds. What do you think?
why doesnt the city employ someone to maintain the playgrounds and clean the streets? why should it fall to welfare recipients?
years ago street cleaning and playground maintainence were actual jobs.. but since due to 'budget constraints' these basic jobs have been curtailed or even eliminated. and now the city looks towards a cheap alternative. one they dont necessarily have to pay for.
1. many countries are in a recession, so there are less tax dollars to fund city services
2. many cities are in bankruptcy, so they can't hire new people
3. many cities shower their employees with above-market-value compensation, benefits & pensions, as a result, cities can't afford to hire additional employees
4. Politics!
The system is broke, and it was made that way by everyone....rich and poor!
I remember my American Government teacher making the case for this in high school like 20 years ago. It makes sense to me after a pre-determined length of time has passed and they still haven't found employment. They may bitch about it but I bet it will make them feel just a slight bit better about their situation if they know they are at least "working for" the money.
I remember my American Government teacher making the case for this in high school like 20 years ago. It makes sense to me after a pre-determined length of time has passed and they still haven't found employment. They may bitch about it but I bet it will make them feel just a slight bit better about their situation if they know they are at least "working for" the money.
yeah im sure id feel really great about my 'situation' having to pick up trash other arseholes have dropped cause they have no sense of pride in their community.
hear my name
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
how do you propose these poor and "minorities" pay for a college education when the cost of college is skyrocketing and they barely have neough money to pay rent and buy food and keep the lights on??? think about what you are saying, because if it was that easy everyone would do it. in 5 years they come out, maybe can't find a career immediately, yet they have that massive loan payement to start paying on 6 months after graduation.
by the way, hey republicans, it has been a few months since you got your mandate, where the fuck are the jobs??
My point is it is better for the soul and spirit to be busy...this how we learn.
That work is enjoyment not a punishment.
This something the physically and mentally challenged have learned,
to be contributing to society builds character, gives life purpose.
It makes a person feel good to complete a challenge.
An idle mind and body is no favor we are doing for those on welfare.
There is proof that happiness comes from helping others, as well as helping a greater cause.
For anyone to shoot down volunteerism for the sake of free govt handouts is nuts!
How easy it is to forget that our very nature is to nurture and take care of each other. Not to mention, that through volunteerism, job opportunities arise, you meet new friends, and you learn empathy.
:thumbup: someone who agrees community service is a positive thing!
I never said that it wasn't....... or at least never meant to :?
This is very true.
The problem is those who are abusing the system often feel an unnecessary entitlement... As if everyone owes it to them to pay them while they sit and choose not to work. In that sense, I'm not sure if those that are just lazy would get much out of it...
And to that extent I actually kind of understand what Heidijam is saying...
Maybe not a universal rule but its a good idea I think, although hard to administer. As gimme and others have said, the welfare system includes many people who actually need it as well as those who abuse it.
Oh no you didn't say you were against the idea
I replied
Those who feel an entitlement or are lazy may not get anything out of it
but the community will and in time most likely the welfare recipient won't be able to keep from taking away positives, it is a positive builder. They may just want to find employment or may find some in their journey.
Those who have a genuine need may get a lot out of it because it is an opportunity for personal growth and understanding of others.
I find it odd that it is looked on as a punishment by so many here...try it you might like it.
I think it would be worth a try at a program like that and their are many opportunities besides picking up trash to those who seem to think that is the only community service available.
A. Many people on welfare already work harder than the rest of us.
B. If we think they should do it because it's so good for the soul, then we should make everyone do it.
not sure where you live but i'd love to find the place where 'welfare' recipients are working harder than the rest of us. frankly that's just insulting to someone who works 40-60 hours a week, every week. and don't use the excuse that many of them are single mothers or whatever. can't afford children then put a damn condom on.
A. Many people on welfare already work harder than the rest of us.
B. If we think they should do it because it's so good for the soul, then we should make everyone do it.
not sure where you live but i'd love to find the place where 'welfare' recipients are working harder than the rest of us. frankly that's just insulting to someone who works 40-60 hours a week, every week. and don't use the excuse that many of them are single mothers or whatever. can't afford children then put a damn condom on.
She may mean that they work hard to survive more than the rest. That still doesn't mean that helping out in the community is a bad idea. Opportunity and goodness arises from helping others.
A. Many people on welfare already work harder than the rest of us.
B. If we think they should do it because it's so good for the soul, then we should make everyone do it.
not sure where you live but i'd love to find the place where 'welfare' recipients are working harder than the rest of us. frankly that's just insulting to someone who works 40-60 hours a week, every week. and don't use the excuse that many of them are single mothers or whatever. can't afford children then put a damn condom on.
I agree pjhawks on both counts.
My son who is 27, works beside his father in our printing company for
as much as 60 hours a week.
His taxes, being single and childless is outrageously high ... $400 per week!
He is responsible and has chosen and been careful not to become a father yet,
although he could afford to.
But all in good time, there is no rush.
Where as, there are people who choose to bring kids into the world
that they know they can not support...but they think that is ok because they know
the govt/ hardworking tax payer will pay.
This very frustrating to the hard working taxpayer who is living responsibly.
And " -"....
I think it is a nice idea to ask everyone to experience a
little volunteerism in their life... don't you? We can all use more sense of community.
If an able body welfare recipient is sitting idle
only good can come from a program that gives him something to do,
challenges, builds self esteem and gets him out in the community in a positive way.
So let me make sure I am getting this straight... Its NOT Ok to FORCE people who receive welfare benefits to contribute to society in a way of community service, but it IS ok to FORCE people to use their own hard earned money to pay into a system that only contributes to people who can't take care of their own basic needs of their life and their family (and continue to have kids with no punishment)??? Is that what I am hearing?
A progam like this is would have only a positive outcome. It would be a great way to clean some of these innercity areas, (and we all know that when you take care of something and work hard at that, you tend to continually take care of that.) It would also be a great way to unite the community, help make those areas kid friendly. It would also be a great way to lean a trade, the program could eventually evolve into a partner program with local companies and my turn simple community service into a job.
Comments
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
I assume you were being sarcastic here^^, or just talking about the very narrow personal experiences you have encountered in your city?
Seriously? You're kidding right? You dont think role models exist do you?
Your examples of poor families with 50 inch TVs and leather couches are not the norm btw of welfare recepients just because you've seen it once or twice.
1. had 2 parents
2, had 2 parents working.
3. was not on government assistance.
so i immediately had an advantage over my friends who lived with a single mom and 3 kids and no adult male in their life to help pay for things or be a father figure. they had to live on a single income and were on government assistance. they were born into that situation. real life is not like the fucking "blind side" movie where sports is a means to get out of poverty. those situations are the extreme exception to the reality. you call yourself a relaist but you have only seen it from your wife's experiences in one city. i have worked in three large metropolitan areas and poverty, housing projects, and lack of opportunity is the same everywhere in general, but places like detroit are worse and have had an economy in the crapper for years now. yes, some kids are raised on entitlement programs, but it is laughable for you to assume that most kids are because of your limited experience on your 2 house visits. i can assure you that the people i have seen can not pay the gas bill to keep the heat on, or they can't pay the eletric bill to even turn on that 50" tv you think they might have. there is no debating with you. nobody said that the kid is not to blame for failing in school. the society and community fails that kid. we need to look at the causes of poverty before we can propose any solutions. that would be like trying to cure cancer without knowing what causes it or how the tumors grow. it is not as easy as you say it is. and i think it is a mistake to put all people on gov't assistance to work doing community service 30 hours a week for the meager benefits that they get. averaged out over a year they would be doing shitty work for less than minimum wage.
i am still waiting to hear from you how a kid in the ghetto has the same opportunity as the suburban son of an attorney. the former is condemned to attend a shitty inner city school where there is no funding for things like essential or extracurricular programs, teachers are undeerpaid so as a result are apathetic, school board members are corrupt, and excellence is not exactly encouraged, while the latter goes to a comfortably middle class school that has no lack of funding, higher teacher salaries, and many extracurrlcular activities to keep kids engaged and for the most part encouraged and less apt to get into trouble. you tell me both examples have the same opportunities to have success...
"Well, you tell him that I don't talk to suckas."
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
You do realize you could train some of them to operate a daycare or an after school program, etc?
Pretty sure most of the disabled people would find it pretty offensive that you seem to think they can't do anything.
There is proof that happiness comes from helping others, as well as helping a greater cause.
For anyone to shoot down volunteerism for the sake of free govt handouts is nuts!
How easy it is to forget that our very nature is to nurture and take care of each other. Not to mention, that through volunteerism, job opportunities arise, you meet new friends, and you learn empathy.
requiring the able bodied recipient to perform community service
when in fact it would help build a better character,
a happier more satisfied individual and a better society all round.
As I mentioned earlier
An idle mind and body is no favor we are doing for those on welfare
in my opinion
if you add 1000's of people to the mix of "community service" those running those agencies will be overwhelmed and unable to manage...I guess that's hard for some to understand...I love how you think this is so simple...
do you feel those corporations that receive corporate welfare should be included in your proposal or just the lazy bums...?
I hope you and yours are well my friend...
while the question may seem simple, there are many layers...
anyway, I say fine, let's force all who receive welfare to go pick up garbage...
and if they don't toss them in the streets...those lazy bums...
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
http://www.stopmedicarefraud.gov/index.html
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/10/ ... 4390.shtml
http://www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/2009/05/t20090506d.html
http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/fraud/pg270.htm
enough is enough
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110217/us_ ... care_fraud
U.S. charges 111 in largest Medicare fraud crackdown
Thu Feb 17, 3:52 pm ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. government on Thursday charged 111 doctors, nurses and other defendants with Medicare crime schemes that exceeded $225 million in false billings, the largest health care fraud crackdown so far.
Attorney General Eric Holder and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the charges in the latest of a series of cases brought by the Obama administration as health care fraud has emerged as an important political issue.
About 45 million elderly and disabled Americans are enrolled in taxpayer-funded Medicare plans, which have come under fire from critics who say the government pays too much to the companies running them and that they are subject to fraud.
Medicare reform represented a key part of the sweeping year-old health care law championed by Democratic President Barack Obama, but opposed by many Republicans in Congress.
The latest charges covered defendants in nine cities. In addition to arrests, law enforcement agents also executed 16 search warrants.
The defendants were charged various crimes, including conspiracy to defraud the Medicare program, false claims, kickbacks and money laundering, administration officials said.
They said the alleged schemes involved various medical treatments, tests and services, such as home health care, physical and occupational therapy and medical equipment.
"Although today marks a critical step forward in combating and deterring illegal activity, our work is far from over," Holder said. Fraud has accounted for as much as an estimated $60 billion a year in the Medicare program.
A top FBI official, Shawn Henry, said 2,600 health care fraud cases were under investigation and that organized crime groups have been increasingly linked to the alleged schemes.
Sebelius said $4 billion was recovered last year, and the government's Medicare Fraud Strike Force was recently expanded to nine cities, with the addition of Dallas and Chicago.
(Reporting by James Vicini; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
why doesnt the city employ someone to maintain the playgrounds and clean the streets? why should it fall to welfare recipients?
years ago street cleaning and playground maintainence were actual jobs.. but since due to 'budget constraints' these basic jobs have been curtailed or even eliminated. and now the city looks towards a cheap alternative. one they dont necessarily have to pay for.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
1. many countries are in a recession, so there are less tax dollars to fund city services
2. many cities are in bankruptcy, so they can't hire new people
3. many cities shower their employees with above-market-value compensation, benefits & pensions, as a result, cities can't afford to hire additional employees
4. Politics!
The system is broke, and it was made that way by everyone....rich and poor!
Fix the game so the players can't play!
yeah im sure id feel really great about my 'situation' having to pick up trash other arseholes have dropped cause they have no sense of pride in their community.
take a good look
this could be the day
hold my hand
lie beside me
i just need to say
B. If we think they should do it because it's so good for the soul, then we should make everyone do it.
Oh no you didn't say you were against the idea
I replied
Those who feel an entitlement or are lazy may not get anything out of it
but the community will and in time most likely the welfare recipient won't be able to keep from taking away positives, it is a positive builder. They may just want to find employment or may find some in their journey.
Those who have a genuine need may get a lot out of it because it is an opportunity for personal growth and understanding of others.
I find it odd that it is looked on as a punishment by so many here...try it you might like it.
I think it would be worth a try at a program like that and their are many opportunities besides picking up trash to those who seem to think that is the only community service available.
not sure where you live but i'd love to find the place where 'welfare' recipients are working harder than the rest of us. frankly that's just insulting to someone who works 40-60 hours a week, every week. and don't use the excuse that many of them are single mothers or whatever. can't afford children then put a damn condom on.
She may mean that they work hard to survive more than the rest. That still doesn't mean that helping out in the community is a bad idea. Opportunity and goodness arises from helping others.
My son who is 27, works beside his father in our printing company for
as much as 60 hours a week.
His taxes, being single and childless is outrageously high ... $400 per week!
He is responsible and has chosen and been careful not to become a father yet,
although he could afford to.
But all in good time, there is no rush.
Where as, there are people who choose to bring kids into the world
that they know they can not support...but they think that is ok because they know
the govt/ hardworking tax payer will pay.
This very frustrating to the hard working taxpayer who is living responsibly.
And " -"....
I think it is a nice idea to ask everyone to experience a
little volunteerism in their life... don't you? We can all use more sense of community.
If an able body welfare recipient is sitting idle
only good can come from a program that gives him something to do,
challenges, builds self esteem and gets him out in the community in a positive way.
A progam like this is would have only a positive outcome. It would be a great way to clean some of these innercity areas, (and we all know that when you take care of something and work hard at that, you tend to continually take care of that.) It would also be a great way to unite the community, help make those areas kid friendly. It would also be a great way to lean a trade, the program could eventually evolve into a partner program with local companies and my turn simple community service into a job.