Living the High Life … On Welfare
Jenny EriksonIt seems that President Obama isn't the only one taking too many distasteful vacations in these economically trying times. Some welfare recipients have been living it up in Hawaii, Las Vegas, Miami, and other vacation hot spots.
The California Department of social services has recently determined that more than $69 million in California welfare money has been used in hotels, shops, restaurants, ATMs, and other places in trendy vacation locations.
As a highly taxed Californian, I can't help but be hurt at the callousness of people that claim to need a little extra help paying their bills, then spend my money on vacation. I can't help but feel betrayed by a government that takes my hard-earned money and gives it to someone else for the common good, but then doesn't track where that cash is spent.
Is human decency dead? Who are these people that demand financial assistance for "living expenses" and then spend it on plane tickets and hotels and restaurants? Does everyone deserve a little getaway? Where did this sense of entitlement come from?
Welfare recipients do not deserve a vacation. They deserve the same thing as anyone else in America -- respect and opportunity regardless of race, gender, age, socio-economic background, or anything else in the other category. Vacations? Those are niceties, not necessities.
Stories like this show why the tea party movement is so popular. Average Americans are Taxed Enough Already, and know that the answer to our economic woes is not to raise taxes. There is already enough money in the system; it's just being taken advantage of and going unchecked by the authorities.
A state audit last year found that none of California's 58 counties was adequately following up on information that could help root out fraud, including monthly computer matches that list clients who are receiving duplicate aid from other states, those who are ineligible because they're in prison, and others who have died.
We don't need to pay more taxes, we don't need more government programs, and we certainly don't need any new regulations. Let's start enforcing the systems we already have in place. I find it hard to believe that California can give me a ticket for talking on my cell phone while driving, but can't get a handle on welfare abuse.
Image via Tech Askew
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AngiDas
It is so crazy that this is going on. When I was younger I was on welfare,but what I got could only be used it for food or health care. There was no way for me to abuse it. That was 12 years ago. Has the system become that broken?
beanielips
billsfan1104
ProudSingleMum
I think too many people think they deserve life handed to them on a platter. They think that just because so-and-so has the biggest and the best, then they 'deserve' it too. But they don't think about how hard that person had to work for it. Or how much time they spent going to school to get a degree that put them in a job that set them up financially for it. I don't make a lot of money, but I make it work. We have nice things (at least I think so). But I don't go overboard. I don't buy things when I know I can't afford them. And I don't take vacations when I can't either. Does it suck, yeah, sometimes, but, if I really want those things, I can work more OT....I just choose not to, because for ME, I'd rather have minimal things and time with my child, than the other way around.
I think our welfare system needs a TOTAL rehaul. I think a program that would be useful would be one that would give recipients what they NEED to survive for however long, and if they can't make ends meet, they should take budgeting classes. I know people often disagree...but I don't think being on welfare means you should be able to buy the biggest and the best (even in food). When average american's are having to skip over the 'luxury' food items, why should people on welfare get them 'just because they deserve it'.
Blows my mind.
MomIWant
I have such trouble understanding why we can't switch our systems to "teach a man to fish" instead of "giving him a fish". IMO if you are receiving aid, you should be receiving education - training for a position, a degree, trade school, budgeting classes, drug rehab, WHATEVER - education is freedom and instead of spending years on the system with no skill set to set you free of poverty at least there would be a return on an education investment. It seems so common sense, but yet......
Bethsunshine
I've complained about this kind of thing before on Cafemom, only to get my head ripped off! I think it's ridiculous that welfare recipients shouldn't have to cut corners and make do like the rest of us, when they are living off of OUR tax money. When I say things like that on Cafemom, however, I get bombarded with statements like" Doesn't everyone deserve a treat sometimes?" My thought is, "If you can't afford to eat and feed and clothe your children, a treat should be the LAST thing on your mind!"
My husband has been working crazy overtime the last few months, hasn't had a day off in over 3 weeks, that includes not having a day off on the weekends as well. I resent the fact that there are people buying name brand clothes and high priced food who are on welfare because either A. They're too lazy to get a job or B. They don't know how to budget and make do with what they have. We were able to go on a vacation in July this year for the first time in 3 years, not because the government paid for it, but because my husband worked his behind off for it. There have been plenty of times where we didn't know where our next meal was coming from but we sold some things, dug in the couch cushions for change and made do without luxury items. I'm sick to death of the entitlement mentality in this country!!
Nancy Crawford Mallon
SweetPieMama24
This is unbelievable. And bethsunshine - what a great post! I whole-heartedly agree with you. There are people working their butts off to make every dime count, and pay their bills. We struggle ourselves! My husband works 60 hours a week, me 40 (only cuz they don't allow us to work more) - and if we didn't have a baby and another on the way, I'd be working 2 jobs just to pay our bills! We got ourselves into credit card debt by remodeling the baby's room, paying other bills on a credit card, and it just racks up. But i'm not asking for help! We tackle it the best we can, while we can still put food on our table. We don't go on vacation, and it's absolutely ridiculous that this welfare money is being used for that!! People need to get their lazy a*s off the couch and get a damn job instead of relying on the government. My ex's mother beat the system for a "symptom" she had, they deemed her disabled and she doesn't have to work a day in her life - with all the $$ she's making off of welfare, section 8, food stamps, disability, etc - she's making more then me and I work 40 hours!!!! She also lives in a section here in NJ that's known for everyone being on welfare. And you know what sucks? Her shoe and jewelry collection, along with that giant LCD TV in her bedroom, can put anyone to shame.
haydensmommy009
Ugh people like that bug me!! They think other people should pay for them to have kids....I understand that some people really do need help and thats great that they can get it but TONS of people are on welfare just to be on it, to get things "free". I know people that buy lobster with their food stamps!! How crazy and ridiculous is that!! We cant even afford lobster!! I have also been told that since my fiance and I arent married yet that I should go get on welfare....umm no thank you I belive that that is for people that really need help not for lazy people that think everyone owes them......For what may I ask????
People drive me crazy!! Please take precautions before you have children if you cannot afford them and do not live off of the system, use it what its there for which is to help you get on your feet and then get off of it : )
Theresa Moss