I would rather die

[her209]

In fact chances are you've already been the recipient of government benefits of some sort.

Yeah, No Child Left Behind.

 

[Doppel]

Personally I would rather take a government handout than die. Particularly in light of how many their are, it's really quite hard to avoid many of them unless you willingly give back money.

 

[yllus]

It is far more logical, useful and cost-effective to both the individual and society as a whole to catch a person as they're stumbling and get them on solid footing again than it is to let them be completely destroyed and hope they can put it all together again from nothing.

Personal vanity notwithstanding, there is no shame in being smart about failure as it's bound to happen to some of us.

 

[TheVrolok]

I call shens. I'm sure the OP would not be as tough talking with his life truly in the balance. Also, I would be willing to bet he already receives multiple handouts (subsidies) directly or indirectly that he is either ignorant to, or conveniently ignoring.

 

[fskimospy]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTwpBLzxe4U

My thoughts exactly.

 

[KB]

I think originally most people were reluctant to take government handouts and they did feel bad about it. But as the government aid programs increased and the number of people on them also increased, there has been less stigma in receiving them. Now if you aren't receiving them, you aren't taking advantage of all of your options. Food stamps are collected by about 47 million Americans. Thats around 15%, so if you are collecting them you can feel you are in good company.

I am unsure about the programs. I feel bad for people who need to take them, but I know it costs the rest of us a great deal and I am perhaps jealous that I have to work and pay for other peoples benefits, yet all I get is tax increases. If I was in a bad situation I would accept the benefits, but I will feel I had hit rock bottom.

 

[Zstream]

Therrrre we go. Unemployment is a handout to you, is it?

Is it not?

 

[Zstream]

So you think disabled people should just be left to rot, or you'd just kill yourself if you needed it?

The disabled and widowed should be taken care of, everything else is a handout.

 

[Zorba]

Unemployment, disability, food stamps, obamaphone, tuition reimbursement to name a few I would never accept. Some are worse than others. My tax return for example is my money to begin with, so I will take every penny of that I can get back.

So have you ever worked at a company that got tax benefits or hand outs? Have you ever gone to a public school or take out student loans? Have you ever gone to a free park or driven on a free road? Do you buy subsidized food at the grocery store? Since you seem to be against tuition tax credits, have you ever taken a credit for anything on your taxes or used an IRA or 401k?

Also, unemployment (at least the none extended version) is an insurance that is paid into my employers. The more people from an employer, the more they pay for that insurance. At least the vast majority of the time it is completely funded by the company premiums, it is not a government hand out.

 

[IronWing]

Is it not?

No. It is an insurance scheme. Employers pay in based on the number of employees and turnover factors and is factored into the cost of labor. Ultimately it is money that might have ended up in an employee's paycheck had it not gone to cover unemployment insurance.

 

[nickbits]

The disabled and widowed should be taken care of, everything else is a handout.

Widowed? I'm pretty sure women can still work.

 

[Svnla]

No one is complaining about the people that truely need the help.

But I don't think it is ok to take it as a permanent "lifestyle", abused the programs, or those programs are somekind of "freebies" and you are entitled to have them even you don't really need/qualified for them.

 

[Anarchist420]

I'd rather rebel against Congress than accept handouts.

I want to die anyway.

I believe the OP because people even kill their own kids to keep their sacred honor. That is, what the OP would do is not very rare.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

The disabled and widowed should be taken care of, everything else is a handout.

So what do you propose as an alternative in a weak financial climate when huge numbers are entering the unemployment roles? What would you like to have seen occur during the crash of 08-09 when millions were entering the unemployment roles with no real options?

 

[thraashman]

I know a family that could very much use some gov. assistance, they have chosen not to take any. I say kudos to them. For them they would rather lose their house. What a contrast to so many others.

Yeah, fuck them. They should be letting their kids starve to death. THAT'S the American way!

I'd rather rebel against Congress than accept handouts.

I want to die anyway.

I believe the OP because people even kill their own kids to keep their sacred honor. That is, what the OP would do is not very rare.

A) That's a bit dark and depressing man. If you feel that way you should perhaps talk to a therapist. Not because of the fringe political beliefs you have that many on here tell you to get help for, but wanting to die is a pretty serious thing and you should talk to a councilor.

B) Even if it's not rare, that sure as shit doesn't make it sane. Wanting to kill your kids over asking for help is in fact quite batshit fucking nuts.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

I'd rather rebel against Congress than accept handouts.

I want to die anyway.

I believe the OP because people even kill their own kids to keep their sacred honor. That is, what the OP would do is not very rare.

Just so long as you can sponge off of your parents instead amiright? you aren't against handouts, you'd not survive without them.

 

[Jaskalas]

I would rather die...
Than take a government handout.

You'd let your gene pool expire while letting the leeches live on? :hmm:

May I suggest if you can't beat them, join them.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Than take a government handout.


When did it go from people being ashamed to be given other people's wealth to people expecting and demanding it each month as their right ?

Not quite the same as OP - but I am similar. I see SHAME in doing so. Feeling shameful doesn't mean I won't do it to begin with, but feeling SHAME is what provokes me to get off of it ASAP instead of lounging around applying to places that clearly aren't hiring in an effort to stay on as max as possible.

There is a reason restaurants have signs that say "Please do NOT feed the birds".

 

[lotus503]

Unemployment, disability, food stamps, obamaphone, tuition reimbursement to name a few I would never accept. Some are worse than others. My tax return for example is my money to begin with, so I will take every penny of that I can get back.

Unemployment and disability are insurance not handouts. Student loans are loans not handouts

Given I pay a substantial amount in tax I don't consider the rest handouts either, should I ever need food stamps for example.

 

[Charles Kozierok]

I would rather die... Than take a government handout.

This reminds me of people who read about those in the past who, starving, have resorted to cannibalism, and say "I'd rather starve to death than eat human flesh".

The answer is the same here: it's easy to say what you'll never do, until you are put in a difficult situation. Your opinions may very well then change.

I'd like to think I too would never take government handouts, but if it was a choice between that and my children starving, I wouldn't even give it a second thought.

You'd be surprised how many people there are on government assistance who once swore they never would be.

 

[s0me0nesmind1]

Unemployment and disability are insurance not handouts. Student loans are loans not handouts

Given I pay a substantial amount in tax I don't consider the rest handouts either, should I ever need food stamps for example.

Insurance implys that you pay for the benefits incase such a disaster were to occur

And no - being a citizen does not imply you pay into the insurance

 

[Zstream]

So what do you propose as an alternative in a weak financial climate when huge numbers are entering the unemployment roles? What would you like to have seen occur during the crash of 08-09 when millions were entering the unemployment roles with no real options?

So, this is an extreme which I'm glad you brought up. Why can't the unemployed do work or community service to receive benefits? Why would I allow someone to get money without working for it?

 

[sixone]

Unemployment, disability, food stamps, obamaphone, tuition reimbursement to name a few I would never accept. Some are worse than others. My tax return for example is my money to begin with, so I will take every penny of that I can get back.

Those programs are supposed to be for people who NEED help to get back on their feet again. There shouldn't be any shame in accepting help when you need it.

However, far far too many people are using those programs when they DON'T need to. They're doing it because they can, and those people should be more than ashamed. They should be treated like the thieves that they are.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

So, this is an extreme which I'm glad you brought up. Why can't the unemployed do work or community service to receive benefits? Why would I allow someone to get money without working for it?

What do you propose for those unemployed with no money to now pay for child care for younger children that they can't leave at home while they are doing the service?

Just to be clear I favor a work for welfare type of system but it's near impossible to actually get it to work. Here in Ontario we've tried. I really had no impact at all.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Unemployment insurance is a benefit that I pay for by paying my taxes.
If I find myself unemployed at some point after working nonstop for 16+ years, I will damn well expect it!

disability is a benefit that I pay for by paying my taxes.
If I find myself disabled at some point after working nonstop for 16+ years, I will damn well expect it!

food stamps are a benefit I pay for by paying my taxes.
If I find myself unemployed or underemployed at some point after working nonstop for 16+ years, I will damn well expect it!

Free cell phones for people with limited income is a benefit I pay for by paying my taxes.
If I find myself unemployed or underemployed at some point after working nonstop for 16+ years, I will damn well expect it!

Education is a benefit I pay taxes for. All undergrad university students should get a grant to cover a fixed amount of costs provided they get acceptable grades for the first 4 years of schooling.

When I pay my taxes, I itemize and take as many valid deductions as I can, however, I still pay a LOT. Therefore, if my situation in life changes to where I no longer earn as much, I damn well expect the safety net to be there to catch me.