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Sunday one of my FB friends posted a question on her wall. She asked "Would you be in a relationship with someone who had completely opposite political views, than you?" To which I answered that I am. Later she asked me why I wasn't a "socialist" since we're on assistance. She later deleted the question cause she felt she was being rude, but I answered it then and I'll answer it again here. (btw, I didn't feel she was being rude)
My children are on the medical card, occasionally my husband and I are as well. We are also on food stamps. This is something that a lot of other conservatives would NEVER do and speak out against anyone who does. I believe differently than they do, however.
Personally, I believe in utilizing programs if they are there. My husband works hard but, like so many others, we find ourselves struggling some. No shame in that. I just recently started working however for the past 3 years I have not worked. This was not out of a desire to mooch off the system. This was because if I worked either my husband, who works nights, was unable to sleep or we'd have to pay someone to watch K. Hubby and I decided that I'd go back to work when she went to Kindergarten so that the money I earn could help the family rather than hinder us.
I have no problem asking for help when help is needed. That is what I consider food stamps and the medical card, help! Too many people consider it a lifestyle. Too many try to "beat the system" by not working at all, working under the table, popping out another child when about to get kicked off, etc... THIS is part of the problem with these programs. The rest of the problem with the programs is actually what causes the aforementioned problem. When you start making over a certain amount of money, you are 100% kicked off. Doesn't matter if you are making 50 cents over the amount or 1,000 dollars over, the end result is the same, all help is lost. So it's no wonder that people try to beat the system. The system is set up for us to fail.
I believe the system needs to be changed so that those who just mooch off of it are the ones kicked off with all help being lost and those who are killing themselves attempting to better themselves and their family should have a step-down to loosing the aid. There sort of is a step-down now, but it's unrealistic. For example, when my husband received his last raise we lost $10 of food stamps per month. However when my job stops being sporadic and goes to being regular hours, we will be kicked off 100% regardless of if we need a bit of help or not. There are very important things that they are not taking into consideration. Sure they take into consideration mortgage, electricity, natural gas, & phone. However they don't take into consideration gas in the vehicle to be able to get to and from work, financial aid payments from when attempted to go to college, etc... Therefore even if their numbers show that you "can" pay bills and afford food without their help, the reality might be that you can't.
All of this said, if the EBT program disappeared tomorrow, I would be bummed but not one of the thousands up in arms freaking out demanding the government continue to pay for my food! I would figure it out. That's the difference between looking at it as help and looking at it as an entitlement, as so many do. Sure, I ranted the time we missed the cut off by $4. But seriously, FOUR DOLLARS?! Obviously we still needed help! But because that magic number had been crossed, no help was given. But that gets back into the ways I feel it needs changed and I've already said that.
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