People on benefits should be forced to work. Agree?

Question

I think people in receipt of benifits should be made to do a few hours work everyday- to help pay for their keep. Who else agrees? They would have less time to rob and to steal and to go looking for drugs. Any other ideas to keep the scum occupied?

Answer 1

I say we make all the scum do community service or something. You know, pick up trash, clean up grafitti...that sort of thing. It would make our cities look nicer, so there's one benefit. People who can work must work for what they have. Now, there are some people who really can't work...bad backs, pregancy, crippled...they should be exempt since they really can't do any work. I guess pregnant women could work at like a shelter or something and make blankets for babies. That'd be a way they could give back to the community. But no hard labor for the pregnant ones. I hate how people can abuse the system and get away with it. If I have to go to work, they should too, if they are capable.

Answer 2

There is a way to address every concern and you could use a lesson in etiquette. Plus I don't think reading a book or two would hurt you. For your information, not everyone on public assistance steal, rob, and take drugs. There are a lot of people on public assistance who actually DO work. You must get your facts straight before you spout out such ignorance.

Public assistance is there for those who need assistance, and I would never agree to remove all assistance, too many children would suffer. I would, however, agree that able bodied individuals receive some sort of job training and be put to work because there are many people receiving benefits who could be contributing to the workforce.

I think if you actually took a real look, you'll see a lot of people you wouldn't expect receiving some sort of government benefit.

Answer 3

Some people on benefits would love to be able to work, even for an hour a day, but are physically or mentally unable to do so. There will always be a percentage of those receiving benefits who will take advantage of the system, just like anything else in life. Nothing, including benefit programs, is perfect.

Answer 4

All people on benefits are not scum. Nor do they all rob or steal or look for drugs. That's a horrible assumption for you to make.

Sometimes a person is down on their luck and needs assistance. That does not make them a bad person.

However, with that clarification made, I do agree that staying on public assistance is too easy and people should be required to get an education (such as completing their GED, or learning a trade) and to obtain gainful employment within a set period of time.

Answer 5

I am a recipient of benefits. I don't steal, rob, or do drugs. Where I live (low income housing- "projects"), you have to do 8 hours of community service if you don't work or go to school. My husband works full time (55 hours) and I am a full time college student (elementary education degree) with three children. We are hurricane Katrina victims and are just getting our lives back together. I don't think it's nice to generalize people on benefits. I do agree that for those who are abusing the benefits (not working, dealing drugs, not doing anything to improve their situation), they should be made to work or have the benefits discontinued.

Answer 6

This is an awful question. Most people on benefits don't ask to be put in that position, and believe me, if they could be sitting on their plump bums lording it on the internet and passing judgement, maybe they would. But unless that work leads to real work (and any money earned isn't clawed back in the form of income tax or lessing of things like disability benefits), and if mothers would have free childcare, and if transportation were provided, and all the health care and prescription and over-the counter drugs provided free, as well as clothes appropriate to the weather and food in their stomachs so they won't be falling asleep from hunger....

Before you say such things, how about you look into exactly how much benefits people get and then figure out how much rent costs (if they would even rent to people on benefits) and then think about this question again. And while you're at it, thank your lucky stars you aren't in that situation right now, but remember, tomorrow you could be.

Answer 7

Not all people getting benefits are able to work. And not all are scum and dopers.

I agree though that those who can should be required to put in a day's work on a public projects or be removed from the lists.

Answer 8

it all depends on what type of benefits they are receiving. some people receiving benefits for a disability may not be able to work. people receiving benefits for not having a job should at least do 40 hours a week public service in order to get anything. maybe it would motivate them to look a little harder for a real job if they have to do the labor anyway. if they don't show up for public service duty a days pay is deducted from their total benefits.

Answer 9

First of all I don't think they are scum as you so eloquently put it. I think they are just people who have hit a rough spot. Or at least that is what public assistance should be for, not generational welfare. But to answer your question I do agree that they should be given either a job or education. There are so many things that they could do from day care for working mothers to cleaning our public schools, or working in a hospital cafeteria. Public assistance should and could be better organized and funded.

Answer 10

I believe that the strong thrive and the weak survive by the rest giving benifits. That means these people should have only the basics of life. Food and water only. Not a home not a car not health benefits. Nothing . That would definately give the incentive to do something else to get a home and clothes and the rest.