Why are we so intolerant of 'Lazy' Welfare Recipients?

I, like most, have battled financially for the duration of my working life. With a view to live comfortably, with little debt; this at times has been a struggle.
The struggle led me at times to take on 2, and sometimes 3 jobs at one time- organising my life around this, and sometimes finishing work at one place and going on to commence work at the next place within the same day.
I believe the welfare system in the U.S. is worlds apart from what we have here in Australia; if not, non existent.

Like most workers, I was breed with the view that welfare recipients were nothing more than leeches upon society. They were responsible for syphoning all the surplus tax-payers dollars; consuming all money that was to be used for the progression of the community at large.
Sitting around all day; doing nothing but moaning upon their situation (and all that were doing better than themselves)- drinking and sleeping till all hours; and then putting their hands out for another government hand-out. These individuals can't be integral within the positive progression within society, simply because they cannot even help themselves.

Now with a better understanding of the Taxation system, and governments per se; I see how wrong I really was.
You see lay-citizens should not get sucked into the old "Lazy welfare recipient" adage.
Why? Because it doesn't matter how many welfare recipients there are; weither they be truly in need or not - THE GOVERNMENT WILL SQUANDER ALL THE TAX DOLLARS- NO MATTER WHAT!!!

Governments use media to create animosity within sectors of the community, to take the focus away from themselves. Because most people are inherently good; it becomes a negative focus: to point a finger at the bad guys; in this case, those that are a detriment to the community.
It is my opinion that certain governments use welfare us a tool for population growth also. It is to coerce individuals to immigrate to one country over another. Through networking, it is not uncommon for immigants to be forwarned about the perks of community welfare schemes.
Once in the door, you are a minni- economy; allowed to enter, go forth and consume!!!!

I think people are intolerant of "lazy" welfare recipients for a couple of reasons. First, people don't like the idea that in fact, they're not all that far from financial ruin. All that is needed is to lose a job or to experience a long-term medical problem making work impossible, something of that nature. Miss a few paychecks, use up your savings, and suddenly you're in deep trouble. Most of us don't have a whole lot of money saved up for an emergency. We may survive on Unemployment for a while, and our savings. But once those are gone, then what?

In order to avoid this scary thought, people find it comforting to pretend there is some inherent difference between them and welfare recipients. They're of a different race; or they're uneducated. They're alcoholics or drug addicts, mentally ill, criminals, whatever. Anything but the truth - which is they're ordinary folks who ran into a patch of difficulties, and couldn't get out.

Some years ago, I became homeless. I lost my job, and couldn't find another in time to avoid being evicted. I didn't need rehabilitation, or medication, or detox. Just work. I just couldn't find any work, so I wound up on the streets.

Once there, it's incredibly difficult to get back off. My experience was far less traumatic than most, but I almost didn't make it. First, there is the enormous, overwhelming sense of failure and shame, that can be utterly crippling. Then there is the lack of resources for job-hunting. If you fill out an application, you have no contact information to offer. No address, no telephone number, no way for them to get hold of you if they do hire you. You have nowhere to live, and nowhere to wash. Eventually you start to stink, no matter how you try to stay clean. Your clothes deteriorate, your hair and beard grow out, and you begin to look scary. How do you go on an interview?

I was quite fortunate. I became homeless during the summer, when the shelters had plenty of room. I found one that helped its people get back to work. Even so, I almost didn't make it. Despite being in relatively good shape - no drugs, booze, mental illness, or health problems - I was so thoroughly demoralized that I could barely face the day. It's hard to go on a job interview, when you're feeling that hopeless. I had a whole lot going for me - especially an enlightened shelter - and I still just barely made it. People who have problems, even relatively minor ones, may simply collapse.

What is a minor speed bump to a person who's working and has enough to eat, who is functioning well within society, can become utterly devastating to someone who is struggling with joblessness or serious poverty. After enough hardship, even strong men break, lose hope, and stop trying.

I never treat the street people or the welfare recipients badly, because that was me. Had things gone just a little bit differently, I'd probably still be out there, or dead. It's so easy to fall from grace, so difficult to climb back up. And to me, there aren't many "lazy" welfare recipients. The worst thing most of them have done - and it's something I also did - was to give up hope.

When I was going to college, I was a single mother of two young children. While I was in school, I would go on welfare. But the second that college was over for the summer, I would get a job (usually within a week, much better days back then). I would then drop the welfare and work until it was time to go back to school. And I have paid them back several times over through the years. So that's another reason people go on welfare.

But I must say, I've known many people who do sit around and do nothing except draw the state's check. My state has good programs to try and help people get back to work and it's become harder for people to do nothing on other people's money. But I can't imagine what it's like now though.

[edit on 10/3/2009 by willow1d]

reply to post by chiron613


HUGE KUDOS to you for both making the statement about people down and out and for you climbing out!!! I too have been there and most people do look down at those on the skids ...... they blame them.

But the fact of the matter is most Americans are just 2 pay checks away from that very thing!

This is based on the dangers of generalizing.

When used as intended, I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with welfare recipients. People do fall on hard times and welfare is a way to give them a way to get back on their feet. Welfare recipients in this group see welfare for what it is: a temporary platform to spring from until they are able to stand on their own financially.

The other group of people consists of those who I have a problem with: Life-long welfare recipients who are fully capable of bettering themselves but refuse to do so. They sell their food stamps for drug money, raise their kids to be future welfare recipients, and see welfare as a free hand out without the intention of ever giving anything back to society or making it their own way.

Both groups exist as a fact. So it's wrong to say all welfare recipients are lazy, useless drains on the economy and it's also wrong to say all welfare recipients are hard working folks who have simply fallen on hard times.

Sometimes welfare gives hard working citizens the chance to work on their situations like by getting an education where they will one day have a good job. In this sense, it's not a drain on the economy but an investment. Then there are those in group B where it is not an investment but a drain.

So I try not to generalize but realize there are both. I don't bash everyone on welfare but I don't see them all as sympathetic either. Consider it on a case by case basis.

The media love a scapegoat.
The media love a witch hunt.
The people love the media.
The people love a good outrage.

Quid Pro Quo

the "lazy" ones have been flushed out back in the 90's during clintons term, i think this is a non-issue.

reply to post by jimmyx


If it were such a Non-issue; why are welfare recipients termed as 'Bums' etc?
If it were a non-issue why are enclaves of government housing created and it made very hard for the Jobless to return into the mainstream workforce?
Not sure about the U.S, but, here in Australia we have these 'Employement Agencies' that one is encouraged to register with once becoming unemployed.
These agencies where intially created by a few government ministers forming corporate entities for this purpose.
However, one may belong to 5 or 6 of the agancies at any one time ( who contract your labour to a third party)- you may never recieve a job call-out!
The government then pays these entities a subsidie to be helping you find work.
The more people signed-up, the better unemployment figures look.

My neice married a bum who is dumber than a stump. Seriously, he wasn't even educated enough to take the test to join the army or marines. When he opens his mouth all he can say is the "f" word. My neice is currently on welfare and they are a good example of bums on welfare. I have no pity for them. Seriously, everyone would agree if they saw what the whole family sees.

reply to post by hardamber


Well, my brother is the same.
To make it worse he hassles my mother (whom is old age pension ), to help him out. This kind of recipient has no compassion from me- yet he has been the same all his life; his partener is the same also ( and all her family).
Sad thing is, it makes it so much harder for those that genuinely are in need.

As in the OP, the even more disturbing thing is that our governments are sucking the life out of communities more than any of these individuals ever could.

If you have ever been forced to take welfare, you know that it is humiliating and degrading. For 4 people I only got $555 not even enough to pay rent in the slummiest 1 bedroom apt. in calif. Day care was available but with my oldest in school I had no way to get him from school to the daycare center while I was at work. The after school program even on a sliding scale was more than I could afford at $50 a week $200 a month. That was almost half my check. I don't know how I survived those 2 years. I had a few jobs during that time but I kept getting fired because whether my bosses liked it or not I HAD to be home by the time my son got off the bus. I remember one day day when my boss refused to let me leave. Despite knowing my schedule limitations he scheduled me for a later shift. He told me if I left he would fire me. Which he did. I got home about 20 minutes late only to arrive home to see cops at my house. My son panicked when I wasn't home and went to the neighbors and called 911. Plus the way welfare works they don't deduct your earnings until 3 months later, so there was a 3 month period where I only got $190 a month and couldn't find work. I had no family, none, no one to help me out.
The thing is my story is not uncommon. I am far from the only person who has gone though this.

reply to post by KRISKALI777


The media love building up stories such as dole bludgers.

Remember the recent Today Tonight story on the boardshort bludger?


www.abc.net.au...

Tabloid media at it's most disgusting if you ask me.

reply to post by calstorm


Unfortunately yes I have. Being from an uneducated background with unstable family environment; it was no cake walk for me either.
I near drove me crazy at one point- until I was medicated; yet, I never gave up.
Being on welfare is degrading to those with a sense of personal pride; and this is what I am getting at; The Psychology.
There are not enough jobs (truly), there is such an excess of wealth (enough for everybody)- yet we are all pitted against each other in senseless competition, just to put bread on the table.
The ones that set the traps and hold the keys are the perpetuaters of this great lie.

reply to post by KRISKALI777


I want everyone to understand that some of the hookers you see during the day are simply mothers doing what they can do to feed their kids. Not all of them are crack heads. Food stamps only go so far. If you are a mother with no help from a spouce or the father of your children, you do what you have to do and pray no one you know finds out.I used to do a lot of volunteer work in my earlier years and I have met more of these women than I can count. They call suicide prevent hotlines when they are at the end of their rope and need to vent. It could be your daughter or your sister and you wouldnt even know.

I think the bigger question should be - why do we allow corporations to not pay their taxes - I don't see anyone jumping up and down about this as much as the welfare recipients and the corporations steal far more by not paying taxes then what is paid to these people.

So in my opinion if you want to Bitch about something - go after the corporations as they are far worse for the United states than some lazy couch bums.

Originally posted by AshleyD
This is based on the dangers of generalizing.
The other group of people consists of those who I have a problem with: Life-long welfare recipients who are fully capable of bettering themselves but refuse to do so. They sell their food stamps for drug money, raise their kids to be future welfare recipients, and see welfare as a free hand out without the intention of ever giving anything back to society or making it their own way.

This is the group typicly thought of by most welfare critics, I used to live very close to a gov housing area and had to drive by it from time to time, it was well known that the rent was very low( about 8 dollars U.S) per month and was known by all to be a very low income area. You might have not been able to tell though if driving through the parking lots seeing very nice cars, well out of the financial reach of many working class people in the area of course most "decked" out with rims and tint..ect ect.

Not saying this happens in all areas and across the board but when you have mothers having more kids just to get more benefits and recieve them longer, perpetuating a long cycle of free money handouts from uncle Sam, then we have a problem. Some recipients become dependent on the "system" to provide for their needs, weather they be normal or otherwise. I personaly think it's sick, the lack of adaquate checks to ensure all people who recieve benefits are indeed using them appropriatly, and in genuine need not just living high on the hog.

I personaly believe in a two month limit for welfare services, (5 in the case of pregnant woman) and a limit of once in a lifetime nation wide. Bottom line is that too many people abuse this service.

Originally posted by KRISKALI777
reply to post by calstorm

 

There are not enough jobs (truly)

Is that a fact? because even the low end of the job spectrum is always hireing and although some of these jobs pay minimum wage the're still jobs and work, the service industry generally has low standards as far as educational requrirements and experience level, so basicaly anybody can have a start in this field and the hours in some places are very flexable.

It pains me whem people complain about a lack of jobs in a given area but then refuse to accept even meanial employment( not saying you are) just making a point.

reply to post by alyosha1981

Coming from someone with a good wage I'd bet!
Say, would you like to work a 40 hour week for $5 an hour? Didn't think so.
I'm glad you think there are enough jobs- but I suppose I should have been more specific, I should have said-Not enough jobs paying adequate wages!

At any rate; the only reason most of us have a job, is because it hasn't been automated yet.

Originally posted by KRISKALI777
reply to post by alyosha1981

 

Say, would you like to work a 40 hour week for $5 an hour? Didn't think so.

Since you jumped the gun and answered your own question, I'll just correct you and let you know that I would if need be, among working say odd jobs to make up the remainder, having experience or education puts a person at an advantage in the workplace, but one must start somewhere right? My point was, accepting lower wage work is still work and there are plenty of low wage jobs in every sector.

The "gloom and doom" of late on the job market reflects Americans desire to earn high wages for doing as little work as possible that's why the mindset is as it will remain until we can "get our hands dirty" again and accept sometimes starting at the bottom.

Menial employment is not just for highschool kids and dropouts, there is an oppertunity for advancement and higher wages as well just not right off the bat. In a crunch I would shovel horse poo for 14 hours a day to provide for my family though I would still look for better, There are jobs out there one must be willing to look and maybe break a sweat a little.

Moreso on the topic as it partains to welfare recipients, I do believe society does look down on certain types and those specificaly sterotyped as being the lazy, drug addicted ones will always be frowned upon because those working (even the one's making 5 bucks an hour) are helping enable them to remain the way they are.

I believe that anybody recieving welfare benefits should have to submit random drug tests as one of the requirements to continue getting those monies. Why not? I have to take a drug test when applying for employment. Again I'll say I do not believe that all persons on public assistance are lazy or drug addicts, but we all know that a high number do fall into this section.

Sigh...this subject is one that hits close to home. I'm currently on Disability and just this past month began recieving foodstamps. It is a truely humiliating experience. I am not lazy, i'm well educated, my wife is the same. I worked as a computer tech, a network security specialist, and had several other titles under my belt. I was well paid. I loved my job. I however made the mistake of being born with a genetic defect that killed my kidneys. Went from working fine but tired to puking three times a day and unable to even LIFT a computer.
Took me two years of fighting tooth and claw to get Disability. My wife dropped out of school and took a job telemarketing that she absolutely hated, but we did it to survive. Yet i STILL have people make a snide comment when i use the foodstamp card, or see me cash my disability check. I've got an aunt that swears up and downthat i'm not sick i'm just lazy and want to get on the dole. I hate that...with a passion that is impossible to describe. I made more per week than i do in a month now. EVERYTHING is a struggle.
So for those who look down on those who recieve welfare or disability or foodstamps. I pray that YOU never have to deal with the things I have. Or that you never get a major chronic illness. Because you will find out in short order that bad things start happening real fast and in a hurry and having 10k in savings isn't a surety of survival (my 18k savings was gone in less than four months due mostly to medical bills). Judge not lest ye be judged.