The Venting Thread

[Dizzy]

I've said it before and I will say it again... never have I seen a 'tent city in a developed country other than in the states.

I don't think your welfare helps enough to be honest! Our taxes are RIDICULOUS. They're also cutting welfare left right and centre. And the rich are getting richer because of it. And the poor are living hand to mouth and suffering. There aren't enough jobs. There's multi generational unemployment and poverty. Its getting worse, and they're giving out less.

What saddens me is what we value as a successful society. Is wealth success??? Personally I'd rather see my government value health, homes and happiness as what is important. Looking after the people will generate money as a happy healthy stable workforce is going to do a lot more for you than one with major social problems.

 

[Ozfozz]

I am all for the premise of welfare, but I think that both Canada and the USA have a lot of revisions to do before it's as effective as it could be.

Many people DO turn to "under the table activities" because they are simply not getting enough money.
Can you live off $400/month? The cheapest apartment I've found in the dirtiest area of my city wasn't even that cheap. Add on utilities, FOOD, and ya know every other daily need?

My autistic brother is on disability. He works 6 hours per week because that's all his employer will give him, and gets some extra from the government. He is not allowed to have over $5000 in his account at one time. If he does, they will cut off his support and it will be a lengthy ordeal to get it back.


Bottom line, yes there are people who abuse it - very easy to see in the area I used to live in. But far more people have it because they need it. And I don't want to live in a place where if something tragic happened to me that I wouldn't be able to help I needed.





Also, staying at my parents for a few days for the 5k yesterday and an exam tomorrow. Woke up in ridiculous pain from the run yesterday and found this morning that this is allergy central. My throat is swollen and itchy and I can't stop sneezing.
I never thought I'd say it...but I want to go back to my treeless industrial park *sobs*

 

[Laurelin]

I dunno, I can see the frustration with how much money is taken out of paychecks. I know I get frustrated sometimes. I am in no way rich at all. And there's things I need that I can't afford. It'd be easier to afford if the government didn't take out so **** much.

I don't know a fix for it though. Feeding people is one of the best ways to spend extra money, imo. I donate to the food pantry here all the time as well as volunteer because they are very efficient. I don't really feel like government programs are very efficient.

 

[Taqroy]

I dunno, I can see the frustration with how much money is taken out of paychecks. I know I get frustrated sometimes. I am in no way rich at all. And there's things I need that I can't afford. It'd be easier to afford if the government didn't take out so **** much.

I would much rather see them slash the defense budget than welfare or schools, personally. And I say that as someone on a DoD contract who would likely be directly impacted. There is so much waste around here, it's insane.

I actually came in here to complain about how bad my face/head hurts. Stupid dog. Stupid jumping into arms trick.

 

[Jules]

No I also do not think that I should have to pay a school tax since I don't have kids, why should I pay for something I don't use? And universal health care is fine, what is not fine is the government saying "buy it or we'll fine the crap out of you on your taxes." Them FORD ING people to buy something is not IMO constitutional.

Your state aid may be great but mine is horribly abused, people have all these kids and are eligible for state aid, then they keep having more kids that I have to pay for, common sense would tell me if I can't afford the ones I have than maybe I should be careful not to have more :/.

WE LIVE IN A SOCIETY. That's really all I have to say. It's pretty lame to throw all people receiving assistance into one big pot. Are there people who abuse it? Sure. But the majority doesn't. Is the system perfect the way it is? No. I wish there was more to be done to actually HELP people get back on their feet instead of keeping them in place. I also wish the focus was more on rehabilitation with prisoners than locking them up longterm.

I am saying that I wish bad things on you, I do not, but it shouldn't surprise you that there's a lack of compassion for you when all you care about is ME ME ME.

 

[Laurelin]

I would much rather see them slash the defense budget than welfare or schools, personally. And I say that as someone on a DoD contract who would likely be directly impacted. There is so much waste around here, it's insane.

I actually came in here to complain about how bad my face/head hurts. Stupid dog. Stupid jumping into arms trick.

Well for sure there's a lot I'd like to see cut before welfare. I just get... frustrated and disillusioned some. I look at house prices just 10 years ago and inflation and it sucks. It was much easier back when my parents were starting out or even 10 years ago. Now trying to be independent on one salary is a lot harder.

I really don't know how most people in the US stay afloat. I have a decent salary and live in a low cost area and it's still a struggle.

 

[Taqroy]

I didn't mean to infer that you want to slash welfare, sorry! I was trying to make a statement off of yours, not counter to it. I clearly haven't had enough coffee to brain posts properly.

Well for sure there's a lot I'd like to see cut before welfare. I just get... frustrated and disillusioned some. I look at house prices just 10 years ago and inflation and it sucks. It was much easier back when my parents were starting out or even 10 years ago. Now trying to be independent on one salary is a lot harder.

I really don't know how most people in the US stay afloat. I have a decent salary and live in a low cost area and it's still a struggle.

I don't understand how people afford things. General people, making general monies, buying general things. The housing market is jacked, the economy is weird, and the income disparity is just...bad. So much needs to be fixed.

 

[Jules]

Above all, I forgot my very own first world vent:

MODCLOTH! Why do you keep teasing me with a tunic I want to order! Every day I check it still says "coming soon." Have it NOW for me, plz.

Also, there should be a special place in hell for people who leave a copier jammed for the next person to un-jam it.

 

[joce]

I used To be a die hard democrat and had no problem with assistance but not anymore.

It is horribly abused. When I say literally almost every pt we see is on a drug I am not exaggerating. States That did any drug testing did it selectively or they would have had a lot of positives. They do not want the general public. To know how bad it is.

I have a friend on care source while my Insurance cost hundreds a check and I've paid thousands in deductibles this year(used to have a nice plan,that changed). Guess who has a new car? Its not me! They go on vacations,cedar point every weekend. When is the last time i had a vacation? I take off fair weekend and still have to be careful with money.She gets formula and give it away or sells. I know solo many that sell and trade food stamps.

It all really frustrates me to see. There are people that really need the help and they are the ones often not getting enough!! The entire system needs redone. And people do get rewarded for having more Kids right now. How is that right? When we have large groups of people reproducing for money instead of working we have an issue.

And there will always be those not accepting help. Our issue here is no long term mental health care. We have shelters and programs but the people who are truly Ill will not go. That's part of our communities tent city. Other part are the ones that are doing drugs and etoh and are kicked out of shelter or spend their housing money on it. We have no where to put those who are truly Ill and will not accept help. Its so backwards and disgusting.

 

[Greenmagick]

It is horribly abused. When I say literally almost every pt we see is on a drug I am not exaggerating. States That did any drug testing did it selectively or they would have had a lot of positives. They do not want the general public. To know how bad it is.

Interestingly enough, the states that DO drug test, guess what.....it was extremely low. It cost more to test everyone than it saved in cutting off support to those who were using drugs.

And honestly, people on drugs are not all bad...most are very good people who got sucked in and yes, need HELP! How is cutting them off from the most basic of support going to help?

I dont care if people sell their food stamps or trade for other stuff....doesnt bother me at all as its only affecting them. They still get the same amount each month regardless of what they do with them

Now, does the whole system need help...YES! THere needs to be so much more done but that requires more money, not less. And yes, middle class are the ones who get the squeeze. Make too much for any help or support but not enough to get any breaks. That is a major fault but its not the people who are on support causing that issue.

A HUGE help would be an actual living wage to start so families that ARE working full time jobs could actually make enough to make ends meet

 

[-bogart-]

Oil prices need to be lowered .

I move daily by the barge full , right now the Fuel Surcharge is at 39% . That is a lot of extra money to move the basic commodities that are used for things. You know , Corn , Wheat , Oil products.
Companies are having to raise prices in order to pay fuel bills. This trickles down to higher prices for everything.

 

[Julee]

I giggled. Can I join Club Terrible? (That should be your new user-description.)

You can be VP.

 

[DJEtzel]

You can be VP.

Can I be treasurer?

 

[Laurelin]

I didn't mean to infer that you want to slash welfare, sorry! I was trying to make a statement off of yours, not counter to it. I clearly haven't had enough coffee to brain posts properly.



I don't understand how people afford things. General people, making general monies, buying general things. The housing market is jacked, the economy is weird, and the income disparity is just...bad. So much needs to be fixed.

Oh no, totally didn't get that from your post at all.

I do agree that I have no idea how anyone affords anything at all. I always seem to be broke.

 

[Julee]

Can I be treasurer?

Sure!


Vent: dying the deaths.

 

[ruffiangirl]

I've said it before and I will say it again... never have I seen a 'tent city in a developed country other than in the states.

Unfortunately we have had tent cities, and we have people living in motor homes, fifth wheels and campers year round (keep in mind it gets damned cold here -40 cold) but we are a booming city, we have crazy high rents, and people making less then 60,000 a year are the working poor here, so tent cities have been erected, they don't get to stay, but many have tried.

 

[*blackrose]

I am so not used to working at a slow clinic. I am *so bored*. Five appointments total today. One doctor. Three techs. Why?!

Another vet is starting next week, so I'm really hoping things get a bit busier. If not...I don't know. All of the other clinics in the area are even smaller practices. So I guess I'll just be bored.

I miss my old clinic.

 

[Sekah]

I've said it before and I will say it again... never have I seen a 'tent city in a developed country other than in the states.

Toronto had a pretty serious tent city going for a while before the authorities shut it down a few years ago.


I think it's a poor idea to claim social support is a negative thing due to it being manipulated by a small section of the population. It will happen. But you know what else will happen? People who need help will get it.



I'm taxed around 30% and it sucks, but them's the breaks.

 

[ruffiangirl]

Interestingly enough, the states that DO drug test, guess what.....it was extremely low. It cost more to test everyone than it saved in cutting off support to those who were using drugs.

And honestly, people on drugs are not all bad...most are very good people who got sucked in and yes, need HELP! How is cutting them off from the most basic of support going to help?

I dont care if people sell their food stamps or trade for other stuff....doesnt bother me at all as its only affecting them. They still get the same amount each month regardless of what they do with them

Now, does the whole system need help...YES! THere needs to be so much more done but that requires more money, not less. And yes, middle class are the ones who get the squeeze. Make too much for any help or support but not enough to get any breaks. That is a major fault but its not the people who are on support causing that issue.

A HUGE help would be an actual living wage to start so families that ARE working full time jobs could actually make enough to make ends meet

Our friend was (is although he is currently on his third year clean) a crack addict, you who paid for his rehab my husband and I, he has never, ever, ever applied for any sort of government help, ever, he worked under the table and used his money, the only food he got from the food bank was expired stuff they left out and he happened to find. Again this is canada, so things are different.

 

[nikkiluvsu15]

I work at a non-profit organization. We help with food, personal care items, clothing, utility bills, prescriptions, gas vouchers, etc. DCF is in the same building as we are.

So needless to say I see a ton of people and I see first hand how people can (and definitely do) abuse the system. They are the people who get $500+ in food stamps, call us wanting food, then get mad when we are unable to help them. Oh, they are also the ones driving brand new cars.

Those are the people that make me mad. However, I also see people who truly need it.

Like all the elderly people whose food stamps got cut to $15/month. Or the single mom who is working like crazy to provide for her children and is extremely grateful for any help she can get. Even if all we can provide her is a blanket or shoes for her kids.

So yes people definitely abuse the system. But also yes there are people out there that truly need it and are extremely grateful for it.

However, it does get disheartening to see the constant abuse of the system that I see nearly every single day.