The irony here of course is that "small-government conservative" Republicans are pushing this idea, which would require considerable bureaucratic structures to implement. Yep, that's the way to shrink government - implement a whole new subdivision within the unemployment bureaus. And if we're going to check all those receipts from every purchase, we'll need some kind of enforcement division, right? People to go around making sure that someone didn't sell their frozen pizzas (also, should there be a limit on just how high-end of a frozen pizza one should be allowed to buy with their welfare money/food stamps? It's important these people not forget their place!) to buy some DVDs (Chef - why didn't you just go whole hog and say "DVDs of gangsta rappas!" ?? It would've been a nice touch.) or some rims for their Escalade - which I'm sure is entirely typical.
Can I ask...
How many people on welfare do you personally know? I'm just wondering.
Personally, I know a lot. And, most of them are completely undeserving of any financial aid from the government. There are just a bunch of shitty loopholes that people find in order to get government assistance.
My cousin is on welfare. My cousin currently works in a major Cleveland area hospital as a nursing assistant (she is still in school to be an RN). She has a full time job, insurance and excellent benefits. Her husband also works. He makes more than enough money to pay the bills. They have two young daughters as well. Their day care is paid for by the US government. On top of that, they also qualify for welfare. Oh, this is where I should mention that they own 2 houses, pay the mortgages on both of them, own 3 cars and all sorts of household luxuries, such as big screen TVs, fancy laptops, leather furniture, etc.
Our tax dollars are literally paying for that. Why? They are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves, yet, they're getting a huge check every month from the government. Are there people who actually need and deserve welfare? Yes, absolutely. But, does that mean that all people on welfare should just be given the benefit of the doubt and trusted with our tax dollars? Fuck no, absolutely not.
This is like some kind of moral testing. If you get a few hundred bucks from the govt., people get pissed thinking that you're getting stoned. But there are tons of stupid ways to waste money. Booze, hookers, PORNOGRAPHY, fast food, cable (incl. the dirty channels!), and oh yes, gambling! I see someone's already thought of that one, though! From the article:
"Drug testing is not the only restriction envisioned for people receiving public assistance: a bill in the Tennessee Legislature would cap lottery winnings for recipients at $600."
If you truly
need financial assistance to help keep you and your family alive, why would you be spending your money on lottery tickets in the first place? Why should we,
as tax payers, be ok with those people misusing their financial assistance like that?
Our tax dollars pay the salaries of everyone in all three branches of government in DC - why not them, too? Test them constantly and monitor their every move. Fuck, Senator David Vitter probably rolled up one of my tax dollars and snorted coke from a transvestite hooker's ass at some point!
I'd hate to think what Larry Craig did.
Government employees get randomly drug tested. I doubt the people who are REALLY high up in the government do, but I would actually like to see them get tested too. My dad works for The Department Of Homeland Security and he gets tested 4 or 5 times a year.
My tax dollars were blown like they were going out of style in Afghanistan and Iraq. And those dollars went to an elective conflict that cost American lives and the lives of many innocents and did not serve to make me any safer (that was the stated goal; although honestly, I wasn't living in fear before anyway). If some dude gets a couple of my dollars and buys himself a DVD, I'll live with it.
One of your friends is in need of some money. He comes up to you and tells you that he’s going to be short on rent and that he might get evicted if he doesn’t pay up. He tells you that he doesn’t have much food to eat and that things are really, really tight. His argument is convincing and you feel extremely bad and sympathetic towards his unfortunate situation. You end up lending him $500, with the understanding that he was going to use the money to pay his rent and buy some groceries.
The following week, he shows up to your house wearing a brand new watch, some expensive sunglasses and the newest Air Jordans.
Chances are, you’re going to be really pissed, as your friend didn’t use the money as he said he would. Instead of taking your generosity and using it to help him survive, he used it to by meaningless shit that did nothing but ultimately waste your money.
I’m willing to be that you would never lend that friend money again.
That’s exactly what is happening with people who are receiving financial assistance from the government, only it’s on a much, much bigger scale.
