what would happen if, people were cut off from benefits?

i'm not talking about the mentally and physically disabled.
i'm talking about healthy folks who collect a check and food stamps etc...........
would it be a motivating factor that would get them to put down the remote and get a job, even if it is a much lower paying one than they had in the past?
or, would it cause general strife and possibly a revolution of sorts?
i am a true believer that most americans live way beyond their means and need to come back to earth.
i just had this conversation with a friend, who claims an anti-big government stance, yet has been out of work for a year and is recieving benefits.
this seems very contradictory to me. i told him he should just go get a lower paying job and suck it up.
what thinks you?

I would not see the point in getting a lower paying job if it ends up being less then the benefits you receive, why work to be just as broke when you weren't.

And not all people are lazy, lots of people just cant find work. and need foodstamps because things are always rising in price.

Originally posted by AzureSky
I would not see the point in getting a lower paying job if it ends up being less then the benefits you receive, why work to be just as broke when you weren't.

And not all people are lazy, lots of people just cant find work. and need foodstamps because things are always rising in price.

Wow... That approach and attitude is precisely why we are falling into the sewer as a nation and really don't have a bottom in sight yet. For some folks, there is a thing we call a Work Ethic and within folks who have such an oddball thing these days.....the amount of money at the end isn't the point. Taking handouts is something to be avoided at all costs..and done only in the most dire of need and ONLY for the minimum time necessary.

Believe it or not..for many people out here, a hard days work produces a feeling of positive accomplishment and well being. It's as important to a balanced approach to life as the paycheck it produces. Just my personal thoughts..

Yikes....

Its all well and good saying cut benefits and forcing people to work, but tell me where are the actual jobs they would take?

Do you really want to know what will happen? People will start to starve and lose their homes, and do you think these people will just go and lay in a field somewhere and die quietly? No they will look around where the food is and go take it, they will do what it takes to survive and to ensure the survival of their children and if that means killing those that do have food they will do it, if that means taking from those that have, then that's what they will do.

Sickens me how people want others to die just so they can save a few cents on the dollar in taxes, yet have no real idea of the consequences

Sorry, I'm disabled and I don't get benefits. I don't even have my Handicap sticker. So, I think this should apply to disabled people as well.

If they can, walk, talk, put up a fuss, and drive, they can get a job.

I work 3-4 hours, less than 10 a week, sometimes I get lucky and get more hours, with a painful back, where it's difficult not to lean, Sometimes, I can barely walk, crouch down to pick anything up, but yet, I still do it. I don't want to hear it.

There are nights where it is so painful, I can't sit, I can't stand, I can't lay down, because it feels like every position is uncomfortable.

On top of all this, I walk from one side of campus to the other side of campus within 10 minutes.

Please, excuses are for woosies.

Only person I think who has a bonifide excuse to even make. Is my niece. She's 16 now, but when she's 80, she'll still be living in her SIMS world. No way in heck, would she ever be responsible enough to live on her own, drive a car, or take care of a child.

I think we should take a page out of china's playbook.

Lets take all the able-bodied families on assistance, give them land in the middle of nowhere, and let them farm it.

There you go. A job, food, and something to be proud of.

Edit: my solution would help the problem the poster below talks about. I bet crime would drop fast if the criminals have their hands busy farming.

reply to post by rubbertramp


I'll tell you EXACTLY what would happen....First, how do I know?? Becuase my job is to work with people who are completely dependent on the govt. If their checks were cut.....straight ANARCHY! Their families would join in the game as well.......please do not misunderstand me.....EVERY SINGLE person living in the "projects" sectors of all cities, would be without food and income, maybe even housing if benefits were cut. So what do you think would happen?? Doesnt take a genius to see this one!

HOW ABOUT THIS QUESTION....

WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN WHEN THE DOLLAR GETS DEVALUED AND THOSE SAME PEOPLE CAN ONLY PURCHASE HALF OF WHAT THEY USED TO BE ABLE TO???

This question is an emotional hotbed. I agree with Wrabbit. People have slowly lost the sense of accomplishment in a good days work. A lot of folks have become complacent in expecting a hand out, just because it's there. That attitude is a self perpetuating slide into a huge loss in self confidence....the ripple effects destroys families, and societies.

I think a well thought out program of weaning people off benefits, the ones who don't really require them due to health issues, would be an outstanding way to go. The entitlement attitude is breaking the economic back of this Country.

After assessment of the recipient, wean them off through social work programs, where they are actually getting paid their benefits in exchange to work. Set these programs up, as resume building work projects. I see no reason a healthy person would be against such programs, other than laziness on their part.

reply to post by Wrabbit2000
Well said Wrabbit, we don't agree on everything, but we absolutely do on this.

reply to post by rubbertramp

i just had this conversation with a friend, who claims an anti-big government stance, yet has been out of work for a year and is recieving benefits.
this seems very contradictory to me. i told him he should just go get a lower paying job and suck it up.
what thinks you?

I think if I ever run into your friend, I will be tempted to break with my pacifist views and punch him right in his deadbeat nose. There are people who actually NEED 'entitlement' funds like this, and jerks clogging up the system and stealing from the taxpayers because they can't actually do something productive and make as much money (YOU CAN STILL LOOK FOR A BETTER PAYING JOB, IF YOU'RE QUALIFIED, WHILE WORKING A LOW PAYING JOB) rank right up there with hoaxers and liars in my book. And I have most unpleasant thoughts on hoaxers and liars.

The systems are almost broken and there are people who actually need them due to real disability or being unable to actually find work for short periods of time, and these jerks are milking it because working like an adult doesn't pay as good?

I think your friend would probably make even more money robbing banks, and I'd rather pay for people like this to be locked up as compared to making a paycheck. And let me guess - your friend probably has gizmos, gadgets, eats out, buys junk food, drinks, and does various other things he doesn't need to be doing in the first place, all while being unable to find work that pays like he wants?

reply to post by PROT3CTOR


.....BTW...that devalution of the dollar is predicted to happen this quarter, before April 1st. You will most likely see first hand the answer to your question, any day now.....its inevitible!! My advice?? Better be able to protect yourself and your property.....and get the Heck out of the city the day it happens!!

personally, i think this also leads towards the illegal alien problem.
the good old, 'they fill jobs americans won't take.'
this has always bothered me, americans won't take those 8-15 dollar an hour jobs because there is no need,
their benefits have been extended and they are not hungry, yet.

reply to post by PROT3CTOR


Totally feel for you guys.

I live with 2 of them and godforid if that check doesn't get in, they go insane and absolutely berserk. Like the child, because she's been in so much trouble lately, with the law, and in and out of hospitals, they held it back for 2 months. Totally agree.

The fallout though. She takes it out on us, Child abuse: There's no food in the house. Stop eating it then. This kid goes through a gallon of milk a day, like the cow, is just outside to go get more. You have to actually put a limit on her eating, because everything will be gone in a day. On her bad days, she will literally dump everything in the fridge and onto the floor and empty it. That goes for cereal too. Totally an expensive kid.

But the other day, she was crying and screaming, "SSI don't love me, they won't give me my check, now I have to starve. There's no food". Plenty of food, just not her [Chicken nuggets and Fries] , this is all she wants.

And," I'm like, just be patient, it will be there. But you have to behave and stop acting out." So, practically every night I have to go get her meal. To prevent the fallout.

Her mom, so anarchy on you guys.

I'm like, I'm not getting involved. You got no one to blame but yourselves.

About ready to call CBS, NBC, FOX, or whomever does those reality shows, to make a show just about those two.

I agree with you 100%. But right now I'm on food stamps. Things have been rocky lately. I've been working temp jobs and odd jobs. I got hired for a job and then never heard from them again. This happened twice in the last 2 weeks. I'm doing the best I can. I got a job last week and will start next week. It's a sales job that requires that you produce or they drop you. I'll see if I can do it. I'm not lazy. And ideologically, I'm on track with you. But sometimes reality impedes. As soon as I can I'll get off them.

I'm not living beyond my means. I have a pair of sneakers that are falling apart as I walk. My rent is late. My 12 year old car is holding together by the grace of God. I don't know why I'm saying all this. I don't owe any explanations to anyone.

reply to post by Manhater


good for you!
basically i only added that comment because i did not want the thread to turn into a 'who should recieve benefits, and who should not.'
although i do think there are many out there who need benefits, it's just the people like my friend i mentioned who refuse to lower their standards that piss me off.

reply to post by AzureSky

That makes you one of the problems. I don't care if you take a job scrubbing toilets at McDonalds, go get a second job!
I have NEVER collected benefits of any kind when I have been out of work, and NEVER will. Se I have taken that job of scrubbing toilets, then a second and third to support my family and make all of the bills.

You people that look at this as Azure Sky are lazy leaches and a Horrible drain on our society. And I'm tired of paying for your free ride. People like this offend me almost as much as political correctness.

Most people on benefits im not saying all.have a quite large dependence on benefits for drugs or alcohol.if the government cut peoples benefits off crime rates would sky rocket.lots of people would try to get a job at once and others would be left penniless and probably made homeless and therefore have nothing left to loose and rob steal and do as they please after all if they go to jail at least they get fed and have a roof over their heads.it would be a really bad idea for the government to do that.

It's funny how your put focus on individuals that can't find a job or that are receiving miniscule benefits.

This pales in comparison to some of the corporate welfare that has been handed out, as well as the socialist bailouts walstreet has been given...

reply to post by Hillarie


Totally agree, it is hard. Going through it myself. But, not lucky to get the benefits. I don't even get benefits at work. That stopped when my sister and her daughter moved in. $100 every two weeks, no one can live off of that. So, frustrating. I know.

OFF TOPIC:

This post is NOT about who should receive benefits!! Its about what would happen when benefits are taken away from those who currently receive them!!

GET BACK ON THE SUBJECT!!

reply to post by Hillarie


yes, don't get me entirely wrong here.
i think those who have paid into the unemployment pool, deserve something back if their job is lost. it's the extensions and refusal to take lower jobs that drives me nuts.
i've been self employed for 25 years, but there's been times where biz was slow and i've gotten construction jobs just to keep some money coming in.
i've never asked for or received benefits.
i used to make over 30 an hour running heavy equipment back in the day.
today they offer less than half that, but it's still work.