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nightsurge on 07 January 2013
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Adinnieken said:
kain_kusanagi said:

We aren't sick of paying for the poor, elderly, and insane. We are sick of paying for those that abuse the system and don't deserve it.

Instead of cutting the programs we just need to kick people off the dole that don't deserve it.

My money shouldn't go to a third generation welfare abuser who gets free money and housing and uses his checks to buy beer and cigarettes.

States control what SNAP funds can be spent on.  If people are able to purchase beer and cigarettes with SNAP funds than talk to your local legislators.  The Federal government just allocates funds to States so they can divvy them up accordingly.  The Fed puts minimal restrictions on how they can be used.  In my state it is illegal to use SNAP funds for alcohol, cigarettes, or lottery tickets.  You also cannot purchase any taxable items, drugs or pharmaceuticals, or dietary aides.  Just unprepared or cold/frozen prepared foods and some drinks (soda, milk, juice). 

If someone is getting paid unemployment, then at one time they paid into it.  Same with Social Security benefits.

I won't disagree that all get abused, but as for SNAP if there is abuse it's because it's allowed by your state.

In what form of payment does SNAP come in? Debit card? Stamps? Direct Deposit into an account? Can cash be withdrawn?

I don't know how most of the systems work in actually giving money to the individuals since I've never needed it, but it seems to me that if ANY of them allow cash to be withdrawn then there is no way for them to track or enforce any laws banning certain purchases with those funds.

What I do know is that a friend of mine recently had a child and OF HER OWN FREE WILL decided to terminate the relationship with the guy because she "didn't want to marry him." I have nothing wrong with this decision, but now she freely collects child support and some form of welfare (not sure which). She lives with her parents and has basically 0 expenses other than food and clothes which her parents provide or help with. Child support pays for all the food/clothing of the kid. This friend even has a degree and a part-time job. What does she do with the welfare? Buy an audio system for her car. Why doesn't she just go get a dental hygenist job like her degree is for? Because she is lazy. She would rather soak up the free money than get a full time job and pay for childcare. She relies on her parents and friends to watch her kid while she still goes out drinking/partying. She is 25 years old and the child is about 1 year old.

I'm sure that there have to be better ways to distribute this kind of help so that the money can't be used on wasteful spending like a car audio system or beer/alcohol/partying.