It sucks, hey nonstop? It's too expensive to ask the bad people to do something positive for their money, so pay them off.
Either way, it costs US, the taxpayers to keep the scum going.

You have a point, Cheesey.
As economists point out, if you give people the opportunity to make as much doing nothing as they would in a dead-end job, you're simply guaranteeing they'll remain unemployed.

Now, in the interests of full disclosure, I should add (with much embarrassment) that I am on virtually every "assistance program" known to man.
But that's because I'm married, in school, to a wife who's also in school, with kids who must (sadly) be placed in daycare during school and work hours.

I was raised to be fiercely suspicious of government handouts, so I was dead-set against taking assistance, but my wife pointed out that it was either that or teeter on bankruptcy while we are in school, which wouldn't be fair to the children.
She soothed my conscience by showing me that when I get a job (I'm a premed student), I'll pay back every penny I've borrowed from the taxpayers in two or three years max.
Plus I'm in Wisconsin, a state in which I have to hold down a job in order to receive any assistance whatsoever.

So that makes it a little easier to handle.

"Nonstopdrivel"You have a point, Cheesey.
As economists point out, if you give people the opportunity to make as much doing nothing as they would in a dead-end job, you're simply guaranteeing they'll remain unemployed.

Now, in the interests of full disclosure, I should add (with much embarrassment) that I am on virtually every "assistance program" known to man.
But that's because I'm married, in school, to a wife who's also in school, with kids who must (sadly) be placed in daycare during school and work hours.

I was raised to be fiercely suspicious of government handouts, so I was dead-set against taking assistance, but my wife pointed out that it was either that or teeter on bankruptcy while we are in school, which wouldn't be fair to the children.
She soothed my conscience by showing me that when I get a job (I'm a premed student), I'll pay back every penny I've borrowed from the taxpayers in two or three years max.
Plus I'm in Wisconsin, a state in which I have to hold down a job in order to receive any assistance whatsoever.

So that makes it a little easier to handle.

There's nothing wrong with taking assistance, when it's done properly. Once, back in the 1980's when i lived up north, both i and my wife lost our jobs at the same time. (We worked at the same place) They laid off 3/4 of the workers. Of course they cut us loose one day before we would be eligable for unemployment. We had to go on assistance and foodstamps for 2 months. I HATED it! And jobs are near impossible to find up there. I went EVERY DAY to look for work, and took a $4.25 an hour job at a donut shop. I worked my butt off for almost no money.
When i went to use foodstamps, i felt like low life scum. No one MADE me feel bad, but i did. Like you, i was taught different then the mindset many folks have now.
Assistance is there for those that need it, but many "use" the system, never paying into it.

here's a question...do you think people who are on drugs or are drunks actually ENJOY it?
do you think that every day they wake up & say "oh goody - i get to do more drugs or drink today"??

addiction tears apart families on a daily basis - mine being one of them - and while i don't make excuses for him - i STILL know he has an illness.
i'm not saying you should feel sorry for them cuz i don't - just understand that they have no more control over it than anybody fighting any other illness.
they need to seek & get help!!

"4PackGirl"here's a question...do you think people who are on drugs or are drunks actually ENJOY it?
do you think that every day they wake up & say "oh goody - i get to do more drugs or drink today"??

addiction tears apart families on a daily basis - mine being one of them - and while i don't make excuses for him - i STILL know he has an illness.
i'm not saying you should feel sorry for them cuz i don't - just understand that they have no more control over it than anybody fighting any other illness.
they need to seek & get help!!

Thats just it.......you have to WANT help. Some people unfortunatly don't care. Some are just plain selfish, and don't care who they hurt.
I know it's not everyone, but some are just that way.