Entitlement Programs, what you should expect.

With the announcement of Paul Ryan as Romney's running mate there has been increased focus on Ryan's platform, this is as it should be. The issue getting the most attention is entitlement programs and his opinion, along with written plan, to reduce the deficit by cutting programs. This kind of thinking has got to stop.
The government of the United States of America is the product of the combined resources of every single citizen of the country, in equal share and without bias. Much has been said about the wealthiest one or two percent and their unequal share in the decision making process, by sheer numbers this is exactly the opposite of how the government should be run. We now have a situation where the wealthiest among us are using the combined resources of the United States as a tool to further their own agenda, this is nothing new, but it is getting worse.
When you look at the government as a dynamic all encompassing resource, created by and for the benefit of every single American citizen, the idea of one person deciding how to use it seems absolutely obscene. We the 98 percent make up most of the human resources, most of the revenue, most of the military and most of the emergency services but we have relinquished our authority on the use of these resources to some very nasty people.
If there is a family who is homeless because they have hit a rough patch they should be able to call upon the resources of a system they have been a part of and paid into. If there is a single American child who is hungry that issue needs to be addressed TODAY by our combined national resources.
I don't think a multi millionaire who wants a job paying $200k can be trusted, that person is not in touch with the current economic conditions and is not capable of deciding where our resources should be directed. This isn't just Romney or Ryan, it applies to every ivy league graduate who has never gone hungry or worried about being homeless in one of the wealthiest nations on Earth.

reply to post by Trublbrwing


Hurray for you. S&F

What do we do? I have one thing to say remember the French Revolution?

The system was rotten so the People got out the guillotines and did away with their aristocracies form of Government. This government only needs us for votes and taxes and cannon fodder.

The rest, they dole out among themselves, one for you and a billion for me. Aren't you glad to be American. Maybe we will be once again, if they don't get us nuked in the process.

reply to post by Trublbrwing


I'll tell you who else is not in touch with reality. The multi-generational welfare families, that have learned to play the entitlement programs for every penny they can squeeze out of them. The people who take advantage of the rest of us, who do pay into them, in the form of taxes. What about those people...huh....

And...add to that the now extra 15 million illegal aliens our current President has given the red light to, to now apply for all those benefits too. What about them.

Where do you think all that money, to keep supporting all those people, is going to come from. I see a tax revolution coming, and I'll be on board...I'm tired of being told, I have to take care of those, who won't take care of themselves.

I have said it before, I'll say it again. I believe in a helping hand...not an unlimited, hand out.

The current entitlement programs are in dire need of a major overhaul, and reigning in...so be it.

Des

The Entitlement programs were meant as a safety net for the most vulnerable in our society. Unfortunately, these programs have become a way of life for far too many people, perpetuating the cycle of poverty in this country.

Entitlement programs are meant to help you get on your feet, not keep you off of them....

The government of the United States of America is the product of the combined resources of every single citizen of the country, in equal share and without bias.

No they aren't and they sure the hell aren't for people who have never paid in to that system or even try pay in to that system.

www.nationalreview.com...


Now that work requirements are no longer being enforced for welfare seems to me that line of "thinking" needs to stop but then agian the problem is more people are getting out of the system than pay in to it, and those same people try to add more benefits when the already benefits can't be paid for, and then to hedge all their bets on less than 5 million people who are already paying more in to that system well...........

Is just flat out ridiculous.

reply to post by DaphneApollo

I absolutely agree, as do most people, that the system is broken and needs to be torn down. I have little doubt that one single push is all it will take to start the process, but those who do the pushing must be fully prepared for what may come next.
How much further until we hit bottom as a society, how many more days are we going to hope for the apocalypse?

reply to post by Destinyone

I agree 100% with you on both points, there is a world of difference between someone who has hit a rough patch and someone who contributes nothing and takes what does not belong to them. Some of the answers are just common sense like drug testing (and treatment when needed) for those receiving cash assistance and stiffer penalties for fraudulent claims. It shouldn't take more than a couple hours to review a person's track record and see what path they walk.
As for the unemployed there isn't any reason we can't come up with some FDR type work programs to turn idle hours into productive ones, we're paying them already right? This doesn't have to be breaking rocks and could in fact be an excellent way to train people for new careers.

Originally posted by BomSquad
The Entitlement programs were meant as a safety net for the most vulnerable in our society. Unfortunately, these programs have become a way of life for far too many people, perpetuating the cycle of poverty in this country.

Entitlement programs are meant to help you get on your feet, not keep you off of them....

edit on 13-8-2012 by BomSquad because: (no reason given)

The programs have also become a way of life for the endless number of government employees who do nothing but keep the line moving. I would love to see a number for how many man hours the government spends to process each dollar in benefits. It is a self perpetuating system by design and the resources need to be diverted to a program that has a defined end point, not a never ending circle.

reply to post by neo96

And how exactly do you know who has paid into it and who has not? If a single, welfare mother in Detroit loses a son in Afghanistan has she not paid into the system?

Do away with SS. There isn't much we can do for those who already paid into the system and we take care of them. I'm talking about letting the people keep their money and decide how to save for their future. It's obvious the government could care less because they spent the money. Second, those who are unemployed can be given the option to help start a business of their own or go to school. I would rather tax money be spent to better someone's overall position in life then just "get by". I won't mind having to pay taxes knowing someone is using it to make a better life for themselves and/or their families. We are falling behind the rest of the world in production and education. Those are 2 things needed for a continued growth of a nation.

Originally posted by Trublbrwing
reply to post by neo96

 

And how exactly do you know who has paid into it and who has not? If a single, welfare mother in Detroit loses a son in Afghanistan has she not paid into the system?

That is one hell of a straw man "argument" rather sad attempt at arguing emotion instead of the facts of the current state of the union.

Yeah every single mother who sent their son or daughter is collecting welfare what price did they pay eh?

Lose their son, and pay for that welfare mother but hey since she lost a son somehow "her loss" is greater than the millions of other mothers out there.

For instance over 70 million Ameiracans on SS then those same 70 million get a nice helping of Medicare which is one government check paying for another one.

Over 50 million on medicaid.
money.cnn.com...
Over 50 million on welfare:
www.usatoday.com...

How many people in this country has zero tax liability and collect those benefits?

www.huffingtonpost.com...

The current state of the union by the number swww.usdebtclock.org...

But let's get to the crux of the issues:

The largest healthcare provider in the country is the US government.
The largest retirement provider is the US government.
The largest provider of free homes is the US government
the largest free education provider is the US government.

But hey that welfare mom who lost her son in Afghanistan is more important that the others who lost their children there and those who foot the bill for all those promises that can never be paid for, and has become the biggest detriment to the fiscal security of this country.

Well stated! I don't know how to star and flag yet but I will make that a priority for your post.

Hear, hear, who are we to turn our backs on those brothers and sisters of our who are in the most need? Does even the staunchest of conservatives want to ensure a child in this country goes to bed hungry??

Here's the deal: Real long story,short; The media tells us about the welfare whores that spend their checks on drugs, or at the casino. The illegal aliens that come here and suck off the public tit....All these and others just like this are responsible for all the woes. Horse puckey!

The real problem is the pigs at the trough. The military sucks up over half of our budget money. You know what that means? Every Tom, Dick, and Harry sucking up to get a contract and a piece of the action. Oh, and they do...They go from government(after they have connected, and cuddled up to who's who) to the MIC. There is absolutely no end to the corruption of trillions of dollars...

Then you have your front companies that are funded by the .gov- SAIC, Northrup, General Dynamics

What you have is a monster, that has to be continually fed. So in order to allocate monies away from other projects, and mind you they are always social projects, they must demonize the recipients with their back pocket press.

Such mularkey!

But, I digress...

You can't change it. But gosh darn it you can at least realize there is a serious problem. No one in this country should go without food, shoes on their feet, a roof over their head, and warmth in the winter. To argue for anything other than those "entitlements" is inhumane.

reply to post by neo96

Rather than argue the same point with everyone who thinks the poor milk the system and like it that way I'll tell you what I saw yesterday.
I was behind a pick up truck and in the rear window was a bumper sticker (apparently the bumper wasn't good enough) that said "Exactly when did you become my responsibility?". I am not sure if that is verbatim but it's close.
Do you know what I thought when I saw that?
I hoped I was the first one at the scene if this man ever drove that pickup truck off the side of the road, it would be a profound experience for him as I peeled the sticker off the window and stuck it on his forehead.

Originally posted by Trublbrwing
, it would be a profound experience for him as I peeled the sticker off the window and stuck it on his forehead.

Thats Gold.

Good luck trying to argue with the ATS Neo-Con crowd.

Businesses are Ripping off this country , exporting jobs overseas , receiving Tax Breaks and thats ok.

Some Mother has to decide between Lights or Day Old Bread, and these folk here want to take away her bread.

reply to post by GrantedBail


Let me know when you have your perfect little socialist country up and running....I'll be happy to take a look at such perfection....

Where will you be housing your huge work force, needed to sustain your little perfect, everyone has everything the same country.

Des

Originally posted by Destinyone

Let me know when you have your perfect little socialist country up and running...
everyone has everything the same country.

Des

See, I think thats the problem US wide.

No one has a clue what Socialism is....

You clearly don't.

What do I expect?

I expect to receive what I've worked most of my life to pay into.

I expect the government to handle the money I've paid responsibly and not earmark it right from under my nose into special interest programs.

I expect integrity in government.

I expect that those with a bit more, and who claim Christian heritage might put their money where their mouths are and help take care of the society that they have the luxury of participating in.

I expect my tax dollars to do more than buy thousand dollar hammers and end up in the pockets of corrupt corporations in backroom deals with Congress.

In essence... I really don't expect much and yet people make it seem like I expect the moon.

~Heff

reply to post by Destinyone


Well Sir, it would have been right here in our own country had not it been raped and pillaged in the name of free trade.

And I ask you, should we feed hungry kids, or fund Al Ciada to destabilize Syria??

reply to post by Destinyone


Such a meme. "Socialist" Oh hurt me with that dirty word. You are too ignorant to really see where the problem lies. That's what happens when you listen to hate radio and FOX news. You think your fight is with one of your fellow American Citizens. You sucker, they played you. See, that is their get down. Divide and conquer. Quit drinking the water in your town. The fluoride levels must be way up.

Originally posted by GrantedBail
reply to post by Destinyone

 

Well Sir, it would have been right here in our own country had not it been raped and pillaged in the name of free trade.

And I ask you, should we feed hungry kids, or fund Al Ciada to destabilize Syria??

Hungry children are a priority, and should always be fed. Children are vulnerable, not adults, and should be taken care of by adults. Preferably by responsible parents.

On the other hand, entitlement bloated free-loaders, need to take care of themselves. There is a big difference.

Why do you bleeding heart liberals always pull out the poor hungry children card, when you have no logical argument to back your position. Tell me that hungry children are not a priority with our American society...I'll tell you, you are not being truthful.

Des