Why do poor people get so much stuff....?

Question

...from the government, from charity, etc? This is not a hateful question. I am just wondering why there is SO MUCH help (free stuff, giveaways, handouts) for the poor but it is extremely difficult for those who are 'barely making it' to get the help that they need. There are a group of people who work everyday, pay bills and are just stuck- yet they don't quite qualify for handouts and things like that.

But then you have some poor people who are very picky about the jobs that they will work, they refuse to be proactive in their situation (knowing that by doing nothing, they will have anything handed to them).

Why does the general public continue to support programs that are so counterproductive? Rewarding laziness will get us nowhere.

Oh yea, Im a 'minority' so don't think Im picking on a single group of people. This is a valid question for anyone.

Hmmm..interesting. I volunteer during the summers (I have 8wks off per year at my job). I've done the 'soup kitchen' thing and if I see another 2007 car pull up in the parking lot.....Point being that 'poor' in this country isn't necessarily poor. I still feel there are people (some people) that are milking the system and its not fair to the rest of us. Most people don't have the guts to say it. Sorry but true.

While I would be the last one to support the 'plight' of the super rich but the obvious response to that is that they pay more in taxes...i can't hate them for that. But they are not my issue. I've worked closely in the social services arena and I am more upset with the gov'ts response to 'poverty' than with the people themselves. And though you call it a 'myth' it IS partly true- you should see what the section 8 housing looks like (at least here in florida) --Brand NEW condos, luxury apartments, especially designed for those receiving govt benefits. Its very classy to be poor nowadays. The govt (thats us) will take good care of you while we can barely pay our own bills.

I'm not jealous of them- that's a really immature answer on your part. As the first poster mentioned- try volunteering at some of these places and you'll see what I mean. Obviously each person will walk away with his/her own impression but I've seen enough to know that the govt does a swell job of creating a perceived dependancy that many of these people do not have (not in the least). Always interesting to me that immigrants who come here the legal way (non english speaking ones, at that) do a bang up job of working hard to make ends meet whereas here in the U.S. we have this entitlement complex that can prove to be absolutely paralyzing to the poorest of the poor (which in turn effects us all). I can only point to myself as an example because my parents were immigrants from the islands and they never went on welfare because, goodness, they didn't even know about it. All they knew to do was to work the 2 or 3 jobs to start out with. Anyone can do that.

Answer 1

I totally agree with you and was just talking about this with my friend a few hours ago.
I think this issue really depends on the morals of the particular poor that are being helped. Unfortunately, our society has started to breed very savvy 'takers,' who determine that anything available for the taking (whether they truly need it or not, and whether they have to exaggerate their plight to get it) is completely owed to them, no matter what. And they've learned the loopholes and the paperwork that needs to be filed to get it.
There are true people in dire straights, who have good hearts and who even through the best of intentions have wound up on the bad side of fate. These people deserve our help, and the government's. Period. Life can change in an instant, and just because someone's life changes for the worse does not make them automatically a useless or bad person, just because they need some assistance.
BUT, the people who literally keep having babies just to increase their monthly welfare check, the people who choose not to work just because they can find a way to just sit around and collect checks - these people should burn in hell. I know that sounds harsh, and well, maybe they don't deserve hell just for that, but I struggle to pay all my bills, my mortgage, etc., and am sick and tired of hearing about case after case of fraud where it comes to getting money from the government.

And just so it's clear, fraud is taking money from the government (or anyone else) when you really don't NEED it but pretend that you do.

Example? The receptionist at my doctor's office was bragging about how big her tax refund check was this year. She was bragging because she'd figured out a way to keep getting more $ each year. Her brilliant scheme? Even though her boyfriend of 13 years lived in the same house with her and had fathered both her children, he claimed a different address on his tax forms, and even though they were technically married (via commonlaw), she said on her tax forms that they weren't, so that she could still claim status as a struggling single mother and she'd get a bigger tax refund at the end of the year. Yet she drives a brand new Suburban and loves Coach handbags. Nicer stuff than what I've got. And she was white, so don't even play the race card. It's a MORAL issue.

When the government establishes programs with no followups or enough investigations to make sure the people being helped are truly still in need (or ever were), it establishes a path of momentum for the devious to take advantage of hard working tax-paying citizens. And unfortunately, this group of devious people seems to be growing. It's too easy, which I think for some makes it seem less 'bad'. But it's not. It's stealing and they are just as much cold hard criminals as someone who steals your car out of your driveway.
Another example? I know someone who's child has a mild/moderate mental handicap. A bad situation, certainly. But both she and her husband choose not to work. Even though they only have the one kid. Even though they are young and able. They collect welfare instead and sit around and play video games all day, and live off of their kid's disability checks. Why? Because they can.
I've suffered, as probably most people have at some point or another. But I've also pulled myself back up on my feet instead of relying on handouts. That's the problem. Our system teaches people to RELY on INDEFINITE handouts, and that they DESERVE them. Nobody deserves crap. If you're fortunate enough to get blessed with kindness you should thank your lucky stars and start figuring out how you can pass that on to someone else after you get back on your feet.

We can't and should not stop helping the poor. But when it reaches the point that fraud and government reliance BY CHOICE is so rampant that it actually makes it easier to collect government $$ than it is to get a career and a life, the system has to be changed in accordance with the times. There has to be an adjustment for the simple fact that there are more people today who don't tell the truth, and more people today who would be just as happy sitting on their sofa than getting personal accomplishment, satisfaction and pride from having a job. It's just a sign of the times, but it's also a reason for changing the system.

Answer 2

Some rich people want you to BELIEVE that poor people get more. Rich people do that so that they can get more and more resources that should go to the poor.

Rich people have managed to use propaganda to make you want the government to be a corporation that doesn't believe in helping everyone. Corporations get far more of your government tax dollars now than poor people do. Trillions.

When governments become corporations, eventually they fall.

Is that what you want? Support everyone. Not just the rich.

Answer 3

How is it fair that the super-rich get the BIGGEST tax-breaks and pay-offs if their businesses go under, but the governement lets the Middle Class (shrinking rapidly) bear most of the burden, and cuts benefits even for sick, abused and homeless kids?

Nobody ever woke up one day and said, "Hey! I think I'll be POOR and mooch off the government...yep, thats my ticket to the good life! No way, esp. w/Bush's HUGE cuts in benefits; the poor are freezing, their kids are going hungry and they often have to choose between gas for their car, to get to some crummy job (WHICH reduces their "benefits") or buying food and clothing!

This myth of people getting rich off gov't benefits will be around as long as people are dumb enough to believe the propaganda of those who really ARE rich. They stay in power by pitting the middle & lower classes against the poor.

This is basic economics...not some huge mystery!

Answer 4

as usual the govt screwed up. medical is a big one. working hard and saving a little has a break even point....that would be living one step above the poverty level. why, because while congress is getting big raises, they are totally ignorant about real people struggling in real life. will it change? doubt it, will you continue to get up at some wretched hr, while a few freeloaders are sleeping in? will you continue to work during the snow storm while the bum down the street who has been living on welfare for the last 5 years, takes off for Vegas, because he just got his disability approved and got a big fat paycheck?you bet you will. want change? get involved and change the laws. a little side note to Shiloh, a good number of people at the soup kitchen, were the families that were at that poverty level I mentioned a while ago, the bums I'm referring to don't need the soup kitchen...they play the angles, and make no mistake, they do it well

Answer 5

My husband and I are trying to get on government assistance. He goes to college full time and works full time. I have gone from working full time to one day a week so we dont have to put our 4 month old son in day care. I think government assistance was meant to be for people like us. We are trying very hard to make ends meet but we are in that bracket that we make just about $100 too much for help. So now we have to take out more loans to pay for college because we don't get a free ride. I think that the programs are there to help us out so we don't end up out on the street. But like you said so many people out there "rape" the system so now people like us can't get any help.

Answer 6

you need to learn how to control your self Dude that is so mean how would u like it if you were poor and they did that to you and dont say "well im not poor" because you dont know what is to come in 2 days you could be living in the street GROW UP!!

Answer 7

well now your jealous of poor people,you want a share of that old stale gov cheese,you feel that they are not human enough to enjoy a well made ,nice looking apt,the gov should give them a place for their kids to rot,oh what a big heart you 've got,yeah their are people milking the system in everything amaginable,but you shouldn't judge.

Answer 8

I think you need to go volunteer at a food kitchen or charity store for a couple weekends. I think you will find that they don't get very much, and you wouldn't want any of it.

Answer 9

studies have proven time and time again most people
on these programs are needy people and not fraud.
you have to pass a means test to even quallify for
these programs. many programs you speak of were
eliminated under reagan, social programs, and
under clinton law was changed where you can only stay
on welfare for so long and not an indefinite period
of time.

Answer 10

People say if they work their benefits will drop. Welfare started off as a good cause now people cheat and work the system to death. It is sickening.