People on food stamps

[keale18]

If you wanted equality for everyone then communism would be the way to go. We are not equal. Millionaires shouldn't be taxes more because they have more. And poor people shouldn't get more because they have less. The system is most definitely flawed.

But if that is really how you feel, then I have nothing else to add.

The argument is that millionaires should be at least taxed at the same rate as the rest of us. The conservative position I keep hearing is that if this happened it would kill job creation and discourage investment which is utter non sense. Theres no link. Taxes have been lower in the last decade than they have been for the previous 4 decades and in that period of time jobs have gone overseas in record numbers.

Conservative like to point to the golden years like the 50s where taxes were much higher and unions were at or near the height of power. Then theres the Reagan years where conservatives forget that good ol Ronnie raised taxes.

 

[noah way]

Conservative like to point to the golden years like the 50s where taxes were much higher and unions were at or near the height of power. Then theres the Reagan years where conservatives forget that good ol Ronnie raised taxes.

Conservative arguments are bogus. Reagan cut taxes on the rich, then raised taxes 11 times and tripled the national debt. All those tax increases and huge deficit spending generated huge tax revenue - which so-called conservatives point to as proof that tax cuts "work".

There is ZERO evidence that tax cuts create jobs - the only thing they create is even more wealth for those who already have too much. And tax on investment income is low (capital gains) to non-existent (foreign investment tax credit).

The whole house of cards is close to collapse. I'd be surprised if this country survives to the next election cycle.

 

[OutofDate1980]

It's called character assassination....so? ...

When one can't assassinate an argument, then one must assassinate a character ? Believe you have more character than that.

 

[Frisco]

IF you want to help the poor do it!?! But why force others to? And for crying out loud, why funnel it through the government.

Because in the U.S. the government is you and me and the guy who needs the help and any other voter.

We get pretty mad at the people who we elect, but they still do represent us all, and they're using our tax money not so wisely when they choose to spend more on oil wars overseas than on eradicating poverty here at home.

 

[Member243850]

Because in the U.S. the government is you and me and the guy who needs the help and any other voter.

We get pretty mad at the people who we elect, but they still do represent us all, and they're using our tax money not so wisely when they choose to spend more on oil wars overseas than on eradicating poverty here at home.

Well said

But shouldn't the USA be trying to fix the huuuuge debt they owe to the rest of the World as well?

The USA owes the rest of the World a lot of money, they should pay it back. But they go around starting wars with other countries and waste lots of money on these wars.

I think it's wrong that the USA Government does this to the rest of the world.

Now don't get me wrong, I am not angry with the American people, I am angry with their governemnts that have been abusing some parts of the world.

Some of the nicest people in the world are Americans and they are ashamed of the way their governments act sometimes.

I hope I do not offend any body, it's just my 2 cents. I could be totally wrong lol.

I am wrong often.

 

[Frisco]

Stinky, you bring up a subject that I get so mad about that I can't even think straight. Our big $$ business leaders have sold us down the road, and it's our kids who will suffer big time for it if we don't turn it around right now.

The amounts are staggering, they defy the imagination. Trillions. That's thousands of billions of American dollars.

I have no idea how to even go about it because our system is so compromised by greedy billionaires who resist paying their fair share of taxes (these are the people who are in charge) that it looks hopeless.

Here's a short list of those we're indebted to, foreign and domestic:

• Hong Kong: $121.9 billion (0.9 percent)
• Caribbean banking centers: $148.3 (1 percent)
• Taiwan: $153.4 billion (1.1 percent)
• Brazil: $211.4 billion (1.5 percent)
• Oil exporting countries: $229.8 billion (1.6 percent)
• Mutual funds: $300.5 billion (2 percent)
• Commercial banks: $301.8 billion (2.1 percent)
• State, local and federal retirement funds: $320.9 billion (2.2 percent)
• Money market mutual funds: $337.7 billion (2.4 percent)
• United Kingdom: $346.5 billion (2.4 percent)
• Private pension funds: $504.7 billion (3.5 percent)
• State and local governments: $506.1 billion (3.5 percent)
• Japan: $912.4 billion (6.4 percent)
• U.S. households: $959.4 billion (6.6 percent)
• China: $1.16 trillion (8 percent)
• The U.S. Treasury: $1.63 trillion (11.3 percent)
• Social Security trust fund: $2.67 trillion (19 percent)

 

[Member243850]

Stinky, you bring up a subject that I get so mad about that I can't even think straight. Our big $$ business leaders have sold us down the road, and it's our kids who will suffer big time for it if we don't turn it around right now.

The amounts are staggering, they defy the imagination. Trillions. That's thousands of billions of American dollars.

I have no idea how to even go about it because our system is so compromised by greedy billionaires who resist paying their fair share of taxes (these are the people who are in charge) that it looks hopeless.

Here's a short list of those we're indebted to, foreign and domestic:

• Hong Kong: $121.9 billion (0.9 percent)
• Caribbean banking centers: $148.3 (1 percent)
• Taiwan: $153.4 billion (1.1 percent)
• Brazil: $211.4 billion (1.5 percent)
• Oil exporting countries: $229.8 billion (1.6 percent)
• Mutual funds: $300.5 billion (2 percent)
• Commercial banks: $301.8 billion (2.1 percent)
• State, local and federal retirement funds: $320.9 billion (2.2 percent)
• Money market mutual funds: $337.7 billion (2.4 percent)
• United Kingdom: $346.5 billion (2.4 percent)
• Private pension funds: $504.7 billion (3.5 percent)
• State and local governments: $506.1 billion (3.5 percent)
• Japan: $912.4 billion (6.4 percent)
• U.S. households: $959.4 billion (6.6 percent)
• China: $1.16 trillion (8 percent)
• The U.S. Treasury: $1.63 trillion (11.3 percent)
• Social Security trust fund: $2.67 trillion (19 percent)

Wow!

Sorry I had no idea man

I am so sorry you guys have to deal with this crap.

Damn... that is not cool at all dude. ;(

Well lets hope it comes right man

I am just so sorry you guys have to deal with that crap.

I am glad we don't have a huge debt but I think we in SA will in about 10 years time.

So lets just hope it comes right!

Sorry if I upset you man, I did not mean to ;(

Stinky

 

[Frisco]

Lol.. not upset, Stinky.

Ok, upset.

 

[Member243850]

Lol.. not upset, Stinky.

Ok, upset.

Hahaha

Thats funny

Hmm but all jokes aside, are we going into another Great Depression? Is it because of the USA governments debt to the world?

Like a Great Depression "2" or something?

That scares the life out of me

I don't like the sound of that at all.

Why is the world economy so bad?

Hmm I think I am going off topic here slightly so maybe I think I will start a new thread about the "Great Depression 2" or something like that.

Damn I keep going off topic about things, I should try to stop that.

Sorry about going off topic. I will stop doing that in future, I just get slightly carried away at times

Keep well

Regards

Stinky

 

[Frisco]

I think the huge corporations and super wealthy are this time being affected enough to where it's possible they might just get together and look for a clever way to get on the right track.

They squirm for their own profits at first sign of this stuff, even begging for money from Washington. They got it, and it only temporarily patched things.

Now, over time, they might just see a connection between how we're doing down here in regular guy land and how they're doing up there in %^&$#!! la la land. They need us.

But we're going off track, only peripherally related to the food stamp/welfare issue of the OP. I'm going to stop discussing this subject of the world economy, etc, in this thread now so that it can get back on track.

 

[lordofthereef]

Terminology is critical.

The global corporate-financial complex, their political stooges and their megaphone media have "successfully" (for lack of a better word) changed the dialogue of the financial crisis (jobs, unemployment, slash and burn economics, concentration of wealth, etc.) to a DEBT crisis. Countries in Europe don't have employment problems, they have DEBT problems.

So yes, I have a problem with the term handout. It's really assistance to the poor, the unemployed and the underemployed, with the context being that the vast majority of them are in that position precisely because of the actions of the global corporate-financial complex.

"Behind every great fortune there is a great crime."
-- Honor

 

[Crude]

When one can't assassinate an argument, then one must assassinate a character ? Believe you have more character than that.

It's a debate strategy. No different then if I would link to a know christian website for evidence against evolution. Regardless what's on that site, some one would through it out because of the source. But now we are way off topic again.

 

[Crude]

Because in the U.S. the government is you and me and the guy who needs the help and any other voter.

We get pretty mad at the people who we elect, but they still do represent us all, and they're using our tax money not so wisely when they choose to spend more on oil wars overseas than on eradicating poverty here at home.

Rhetoric and talking points, I'm not making an impression am I? I gave it an honest attempt, but it seems I've wasted my time. If anyone wants any further debate lets do it on my turf at AR15 dot com.

 

[lordofthereef]

Some interesting notes from that article: The more you make the more you are taxed...until you become "mega-rich".

Respectfully, we were talking about the richest people in America. I think the "mega-rich" are the ones that fall under said category, no? Fact is, income is income and a loophole is still a loophole.

 

[lordofthereef]

Rhetoric and talking points, I'm not making an impression am I? I gave it an honest attempt, but it seems I've wasted my time. If anyone wants any further debate lets do it on my turf at AR15 dot com.

Love to. Sadly my work PC blocks this as it is a weapons site.

 

[noah way]

Apologies if I stepped on toes. Personally, I think political correctness is BS. We dance around these terms and how to use them. People that can't afford to support themselves are being handed money. I see that as a handout, albeit one that is necessary and one that I am more than willing to give. I would hope that those that truly need the money are happy that these programs exists regardless of what the government or the public tend to call it. I certainly don't see how my personal use of the terminology warrants further discussion, but if you wish, I am happy to continue.

It's not an argument, simply a point of clarity. It's not a matter of being politically correct, it's a matter of accuracy of meaning.

hand-out also handout, hand out, "alms or food given to a beggar," 1882, hobo slang, from hand (v.) + out.

A "handout" implies that it is undeserved. Assistance to people who have paid into the system (via FICA) is vastly different from "handouts to beggars", which are essentially charity.

That people who have exhausted whatever small benefits they may have been eligible for have become beggars is another point to consider.

beggar (v.) "reduce to poverty," mid-15c.

 

[lordofthereef]

I think terms are able to have different meanings, and that these meanings evolve. When it is used in government terminology as a description of where money is being spent, I don't see a problem with using it in every day speech. As I said multiple times, I am not implying that it is undeserved, or that those receiving them are beggars. I don't know of a single person who is using the term handout as "hobo slang" which apparently originated nearly 130 years ago.

 

[noah way]

I think terms are able to have different meanings, and that these meanings evolve. When it is used in government terminology as a description of where money is being spent, I don't see a problem with using it in every day speech. As I said multiple times, I am not implying that it is undeserved, or that those receiving them are beggars. I don't know of a single person who is using the term handout as "hobo slang" which apparently originated nearly 130 years ago.

Government terminology? You mean spin. EVERY Republican uses "handout" with that implication.

 

[lordofthereef]

Alright, well, that is not how I am using it. I'm just going to leave it at that.

 

[BringItSon]

it works for certain cases. However, for most of the time, it does not work. People will just spend money that they were going to spend on food on unnecessary, or luxury goods.

Don't get me wrong, there are definitely people who needs it, but you have to wonder how much of the money is actually getting wasted. After working as caddy when i was in high school, i realized that everyone there (who were adults) made quite a sum of money. However, since all the money they make is in cash. They pick up welfare checks, food stamps and etc. and spend all their cash on booze, hookers, weed, PS3 xbox and etc..

They seriously needs to tighten the restriction on this food stamp. Or better, they should just spend money going to food stamp on building a house for a homeless people where people will be provided jobs and will be fed.

at least that way, those will payback the society instead of leeching off of it.

 

[lordofthereef]

it works for certain cases. However, for most of the time, it does not work. People will just spend money that they were going to spend on food on unnecessary, or luxury goods.

Don't get me wrong, there are definitely people who needs it, but you have to wonder how much of the money is actually getting wasted. After working as caddy when i was in high school, i realized that everyone there (who were adults) made quite a sum of money. However, since all the money they make is in cash. They pick up welfare checks, food stamps and etc. and spend all their cash on booze, hookers, weed, PS3 xbox and etc..

They seriously needs to tighten the restriction on this food stamp. Or better, they should just spend money going to food stamp on building a house for a homeless people where people will be provided jobs and will be fed.

at least that way, those will payback the society instead of leeching off of it.

If this is true (and I am not doubting you), the responsible thing to do, I would think, is report this activity to the IRS. Not reporting cash incoming is NOT a loophole. It is illegal.

 

[Sue7M3]

Well, actually retirement wasn't an option for everyone. We think we are entitled to retire now. Add to that the wish to live forever and you have rising medical costs. Two of our biggest expenses as a nation.

I don't know who the "we' you're speaking for is, but it's not me. I am 41 and my husband is 44. We have absolutely no expectations that we'll ever retire or that Social Security will be there for us.

You're also not speaking for my parents. My mother is 67 and my father is 71 and they both still work full time. They can't afford to retire.

Most people these days don't feel very entitled at all.

 

[nlsme]

If by "entitled" you mean wanting to receive what was promised them when taking money from them, sure. If by "entitled", you mean wanting something for nothing, I think she is spot on.

 

[batgeek]

what is the pay in/pay out ratio of social security?

to think that was going to last was foolish at best. it began as a flawed system, continued to be a flawed system, and will die as a flawed system.

to sit there and think you are going to be able to rely on SS in order to retire....well, i'll leave that judgement up to you.

 

[Sue7M3]

what is the pay in/pay out ratio of social security?

to think that was going to last was foolish at best. it began as a flawed system, continued to be a flawed system, and will die as a flawed system.

to sit there and think you are going to be able to rely on SS in order to retire....well, i'll leave that judgement up to you.

As I said before, my husband and I, who are in our early 40's, and everyone I know who is our age, have no expectations that Social Security will even exist when we reach our late 60's. I have no idea why you keep arguing. No one has said they expect Social Security to be there for them, yet you seem to insist they have.