What do you think about Government Assistance?

In my state I think there are too many people on assistance. I know that when my husband and I both lost our jobs we could not get food stamp or any help. In order for the government to help us I would have to loose my home. This was stupid and my husband and I both took what ever jobs we could to keep food on the table as well as the house paid. I do know of a few people who get food stamps as well as free medical as well as cheap housing. I also know that some people have their boyfriends living in the house and paying bills. I do not understand how people on government assistance can afford brand new cars. I work and my husband works and we can not affort a new car. I think the reason the government is running out of money is because there are a lot of people out there having babies just to stay on welfare. It is a shame. I think that instead of giving these people money they should find them actual work to do. If I can work and take care of my child so can anyone else. The system in my state is definately broke. When they go in to check on the family on assistance they give them warning. With this warning the house is cleaned up and the people who are supposed to be living there leave for a short time. After the inpection the others come back. I had a family living down the street that that had three adults in the house and six kids that is a lot in one home. There is nothing you can do. It is hard to watch as some get new cars and a good house in a good neighborhood and they have not worked a day in their life. I think that assistance should be just that. You should be able to get help when you need it but make a living off it. My cousin was on it for six months and she was so happy when she got off. It was very hard for her a sigle mom with no support from the babies father. She is doing very well now and my niece is in college.

I have been working non-stop for over 15 years "I started in cabbage fields at 14" and have paid a lot of taxes fines and other expences to local, state, and federal government and would not hessitate if the need be to go on it "I paid now give it back". and now days people on public assistance have to work for it a singal person can be made to work up to 55 hours a week for, food stamps and cash aid.

Wow, you know people who had a child just to stay on welfare? That's crazy, and it's not even economically efficient (at least in the US). I studied the welfare system in-depth a while ago, right before it changed to the welfare-to-work program back in, I guess it was maybe 1996 or 1997. I ran the numbers, and I found that for each additional child a person has, about $90 gets added to the check. Big deal, that's like 3 bux a day! A child costs more than $90 a month, that's insane to have a child for an extra $90 a month. I mean, seriously, you could just go beg for change or recycle cans if all you want is an extra 3 dollars a day! I think government assistance is great. I just saw the movie Sicko, which was very informative showing how other countries had systems for helping mothers. I think it may have been in France, but when a woman gives birth, the government actually sends in somebody to help her with household tasks. And in many other places daycare is provided by the government as well. This is not so in the U.S. I think the U.S. should have MORE social programs, I think we'd all be better off! Of course, there are perhaps some people who will take advantage of the system, just as there are people who will take advantage of every situation, but for the most part,I think people want to be prouctive and want to live a life that contributes to others around them, in whatever way that is. Most people don't want to just sit around and do nothing and be a mooch (although there are a few of those...)

I think my biggest complaint is people that make a career out of it and the government not providing any means of getting them off of it. I think with the exception of serious physical limitations and old age, the rest can be educated as well as trained with some sort of skill that would provide an income for them. It's crazy to allow a 25-year old woman to collect assistance because she has a fear of people. Just stupid really. It would be cheaper to get her either therapy or training in a field where she doesn't have to deal with many people at all, like data entry or working in packing.

Although we hear about people abusing the system, the audits done (at least where I live) show this to be a small percentage. My states benefits are very low compared to the cost of living here- family of 2 receive just over 400 a month in cash last I knew, and you can not rent a 1 bedroom apartment for less than $600 even in the most deplorable of neighborhoods. And our public/subsidized housing has waiting lists that are years long. I have known a few women who were on assistance & working under the table as waitresses or babysitters, but they weren't doing so to live it up or have luxury items. They were barely making enough for their rent. I would never have thought to report them, they were just trying to get by until they finished school or until a better job came along. I think the average person collecting is truly in need of assistance & more should be put into programs that help them get back into the job market.

unfortunately im in that state right now. i use government assitance for medical purposes only. in chicago is too expensive for medical services especailly for the kids. i have a situation right now where i have to use it because my youngest child, my son is always in and out of teh doc's office and every visit is $318 and honestly i can't afford that, but food tsamps and cash assitance nope i told the welfare office all i need is help with the medical expenses.

I really believe the majority of the people who are getting assistance really need it and can't wait to get off of it, but there are exceptions, people who abuse the system. I'm always hearing and reading about those who get cash assistance, food stamps, medicaid, etc. and own a nice home and nice cars and I really don't know how they get away with it because I've known of people who honestly needed a little help for a short time and were unable to get it because of their "assets". It's no nearly as easy to get welfare as some seem to assume it is and the sad thing is that the system punishes those who are trying their best to make a living but simply can't make ends meet on what they earn. The government is NOT out of money because of people on assistance, when I read that I'm flabbergasted! We spend billions per week for the war in Iraq and nowhere near as much annually on assistance for the needy. The system does need to be fixed, and education, job training, and child care are just a few areas where work is needed. I used to really put down those on welfare, I think mainly due to the few who do make a lifetime "career" out of it, but today there are many proud, hardworking people who need help and unfortunately some are unable to get it. Annie

I get food stamps myself, but with each year, they decrease it. Which is fine by me but to be honest, I am glad for getting it. But if this country would pay folks enough money to live on and feel good about the wage they earn and quit this nickel and diming folks, we wouldn't have such a thing. And to me, it seems as though women are the main ones to be in this boat. I work at a job that barely pay you, beg you to work on your off days(last week, I worked six days and they wanted me to work another six, I said no).

my parent never ask for government assistance even we ever have a hard time ,short time for aiding is reasonable ,but just for special motive and benefit from them for long time