Should welfare recipients be allowed to have luxury items?

[Murloc]

AC isn't a luxury it's a god damned requirement if it EVER gets above 70 where you live. Not just a pet peeve, but an honest point - too hot can cause serious health issues, it interrupts sleep, makes you moody...in general decreases your output which doesn't help when looking for work or trying to make an impression.

Carry on with the rest however.

LOL that's 21°C.
Are you frigging serious? people live with 40°C without AC, and anyway 21°C is low!
27°C is the limit.
If you can't stand 25°C you honestly have a health problem, it means that you die if you get out and there's 35°C.
In my room in July I always have up to 28°C during the day and it gets down to 24°C at night. It's not comfortable, but it's hardly a health risk.

IT: it would cost more to check what they're buying than just giving them the money.

 

[theeedude]

Poor people should not have TV. If you aren't at least earning $20/hr, you should be spending your free time studying to improve your skills, not watching Dr Phil.

 

[PrinceofWands]

How did the human race make it thousands and thousands of years without AC considering it is a 20th century invention. Me thinks you are a pussy. According to your assertion no one should have been able to survive the Southern US or anywhere more Southern on the globe a hundred years ago.

There are many problems related to heat, even today. Obviously it doesn't kill a majority or anything, but it IS a problem. I AM a pussy when it comes to heat...I've had heat stroke a couple times, and on the last hospitalization they basically told me 'don't EVER go ANYWHERE even slightly warm EVER again'. Not that I ever do, but there it is.

I'm just saying there are VERY real impacts from heat, even for an average person. Just because some whackos seem to not mind 90+ is no reason to consider it acceptable weather overall. AC improves the quality of life overall. It is NOT a luxury.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Not because it hot outside. I've lived here many years without AC, it isn't the end of the world, or even close.

In the United States, heat waves claim more lives each year than all other weather-related exposures combined (hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes).1 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 8,015 deaths were attributed to excessive heat exposure from 1979-2003, or an average of approximately 334 deaths per year.

FYI, that's almost as many people as die from firearm accidents. In other words, heat is roughly as big of an issue as firearm accidents. So either I made a valid claim, or everyone who ever complains in any form about gun accidents needs to be told they have nothing to complain about.

 

[PrinceofWands]

LOL that's 21°C.
Are you frigging serious? people live with 40°C without AC, and anyway 21°C is low!
27°C is the limit.
If you can't stand 25°C you honestly have a health problem, it means that you die if you get out and there's 35°C.
In my room in July I always have up to 28°C during the day and it gets down to 24°C at night. It's not comfortable, but it's hardly a health risk.

IT: it would cost more to check what they're buying than just giving them the money.

Yeah, I lowballed because I'm sensitive to it...but so are many others. For us, we can suffer heat illness from about 70 and up, though usually only with extreme exertion or lack of hydration. In reality you don't get many health issues until it's over 80, but even then there's still some (even Alaska has had heat related deaths, though not many).

That's only talking about death or serious illness. People are impacted from heat at MUCH lower levels. As I said, just something as simple as not getting good sleep because it's too warm can affect you (especially with all the research out there now about ideal sleeping temperatures).

 

[EagleKeeper]

Ceiling Fans do wonders on hot days.

So do swamp coolers

 

[CycloWizard]

In the inner city, a library is a place for homeless and drug addicts to keep warm. Enjoy getting some high risk addict's HIV blood on you.

In rural areas, libraries are few and far between.

Libraries also cannot physically handle everybody on welfare or unemployment going to them to use their computers.

You guys know internet access costs $25 right?

And how much does a computer cost? It seems you're confusing welfare with unemployment, which is an easy mistake to make.

 

[HumblePie]

Not because it hot outside. I've lived here many years without AC, it isn't the end of the world, or even close.

For a young, 20-30 year person, a little heat, so long as there isn't any extra strenuous activity, isn't usually going to harm the person. When I first moved out to Houston 3 years ago, I ran into a hitch signing up for electricity and as a result was without it for 3 and a half weeks. This was during the middle of August with 3 straight weeks of 100+ temps. Couple of days it hit 106. I tell you what, even as a 27 year healthy guy, that was damn near unbearable. Even still, I almost got heatstroke at first until I started jumping in the shower every 30 minutes or so and walking around naked in my place. My pets would have been completely toasted, as they were indoor animals, if I hadn't done the same thing to them with the shower.

For the elderly, and small children, extreme temps like that WOULD cause considerable harm if not death. AC is a requirement even in Texas and is considered a necessity around here. It is one of the very few tenant laws in most contracts enforced by the state for a reason.

 

[EagleKeeper]

In the inner city, a library is a place for homeless and drug addicts to keep warm. Enjoy getting some high risk addict's HIV blood on you.

In rural areas, libraries are few and far between.

Libraries also cannot physically handle everybody on welfare or unemployment going to them to use their computers.

You guys know internet access costs $25 right?

You are trying to justify coddling welfare recipients.

Aceess may be $25, that is overhead after the broadband/phone system to connect to the ISP.

If one needs to use the internet at a library, they will. You are not going to find blood on the keyboards; libraries will allocate usage in 30-60 minute blocks is resources are tight. One has to accomidate with the resources taht are made available instead of demanding gold plated support.

A library may be sparse in rural areas; but they are there and available. Someone living in those areas also have transportation to get to the library.

 

[IGBT]

yes. all the cell phones / tat's / and face bolts they want all paid for by the tax payer.

 

[bfdd]

Except that you can get 720lcds cheaper than older tvs quite often now (if you can even FIND older tvs), and AC isn't a luxury it's a god damned requirement if it EVER gets above 70 where you live. Not just a pet peeve, but an honest point - too hot can cause serious health issues, it interrupts sleep, makes you moody...in general decreases your output which doesn't help when looking for work or trying to make an impression.

Carry on with the rest however.

you're fucking joking about the air conditioner right?

 

[xj0hnx]

FYI, that's almost as many people as die from firearm accidents. In other words, heat is roughly as big of an issue as firearm accidents. So either I made a valid claim, or everyone who ever complains in any form about gun accidents needs to be told they have nothing to complain about.

I'll take B for a thousand Alex.

 

[DrPizza]

A social safety net should supply you only with necessities. The following are not necessities: a TV of any sort, especially with cable/satellite/other subscription service; a console or computer from any generation; an internet connection; a car of any age; cigarettes; alcohol; pets, especially a pack of large dogs; soda, especially enough to fill a vending machine. I lived large chunks of last year in temporary housing without any of these things except a laptop, and I only used that for work (not much else to do with it without internet), so it can indeed be done. In fact, it was amazing how much work I got done without all of these other things as distractions.

I'll disagree on a couple of those: vehicle & computer with internet connection. The latter in the case of children & it puts them at a huge disadvantage educationally. And, depending on where the person lives, a vehicle can very much be a necessity. i.e. if you lived where I live, you are NOT going to walk to get groceries.

As far as all the other things like 50" HDTVs - think of all the people employed by Rent-A-Center and places like that! What will they do without welfare recipients keeping them in business??

 

[xj0hnx]

For a young, 20-30 year person, a little heat, so long as there isn't any extra strenuous activity, isn't usually going to harm the person. When I first moved out to Houston 3 years ago, I ran into a hitch signing up for electricity and as a result was without it for 3 and a half weeks. This was during the middle of August with 3 straight weeks of 100+ temps. Couple of days it hit 106. I tell you what, even as a 27 year healthy guy, that was damn near unbearable. Even still, I almost got heatstroke at first until I started jumping in the shower every 30 minutes or so and walking around naked in my place. My pets would have been completely toasted, as they were indoor animals, if I hadn't done the same thing to them with the shower.

For the elderly, and small children, extreme temps like that WOULD cause considerable harm if not death. AC is a requirement even in Texas and is considered a necessity around here. It is one of the very few tenant laws in most contracts enforced by the state for a reason.

Blah, blah, blah, my grandparents lived in southern Louisiana for decades without AC, many people still do. If someone has legitimate medical issues than ok, but other than that it is just crying about a comfort that is relatively new to us.

 

[PrinceofWands]

I'll take B for a thousand Alex.

Actually I agree with you for the most part. It's just that there are some who really are affected seriously by it, and many who are at least somewhat impacted by it even if not seriously.

 

[bfdd]

There are many problems related to heat, even today. Obviously it doesn't kill a majority or anything, but it IS a problem. I AM a pussy when it comes to heat...I've had heat stroke a couple times, and on the last hospitalization they basically told me 'don't EVER go ANYWHERE even slightly warm EVER again'. Not that I ever do, but there it is.

I'm just saying there are VERY real impacts from heat, even for an average person. Just because some whackos seem to not mind 90+ is no reason to consider it acceptable weather overall. AC improves the quality of life overall. It is NOT a luxury.

We have an internal body temp of 90F and you're trying to say you're going to over heat in 70F weather? You're fucking retarded NOT TO MENTION you can over heat in ANY temp. I have overheated when it was 50F out simply because I overworked my body and got to hot. Your argument for AC is fucking retarded and you really should shut up.

 

[PrinceofWands]

We have an internal body temp of 90F and you're trying to say you're going to over heat in 70F weather? You're fucking retarded NOT TO MENTION you can over heat in ANY temp. I have overheated when it was 50F out simply because I overworked my body and got to hot. Your argument for AC is fucking retarded and you really should shut up.

You can feel free to argue it with the CDC and the entire medical establishment of the free world. Let me know how it goes for you.

 

[Throckmorton]

Around here an application which comes via email is going to be automatically discarded 95% of the time, exceptions being out of town people with skills we might need and possibly someone already employed. It does not speak well of the person's work ethic if they submit an email resume when they could come down in person.

On principle I do not think welfare recipients should have luxury items, but I am unable to come up with a level of government I can endorse which would remedy this, and as some have said luxury items often come legitimately from other people. Who hasn't given someone on some form of government welfare something that someone surely considers a luxury? So I'll say instead that government should intensely investigate welfare fraud rather than attempting to regulate or track welfare recipients' possessions.

You are seriously out of touch with the way business is done. I've never submitted a resume in person. This is the year 2011. You apply online, often with a web application rather than a resume, and then you interview over the phone or in person if you live in the same city. I got a job at the County of Maui when I lived in Texas, which in your 20th century world would be impossible. Very interesting how you're willing to limit your job applicants to people who actually live in Chatanooga because of some misguided traditionalism... I imagine that's a very mediocre talent pool.

Edit: skipped over the part about you looking at emailed resumes for people out of town. So what the hell did you write your post for? Are you saying people on welfare shouldn't apply for jobs out of town?

 

[Throckmorton]

And how much does a computer cost? It seems you're confusing welfare with unemployment, which is an easy mistake to make.

Did you notice I said libraries can't handle everybody on welfare or unemployment using their computers?

A low budget computer costs about $200. Face it... this "poor people shouldn't waste money on internets" trope is stupid. Internet access is a utility just like electricity and gas. Grow up.

 

[HumblePie]

Blah, blah, blah, my grandparents lived in southern Louisiana for decades without AC, many people still do. If someone has legitimate medical issues than ok, but other than that it is just crying about a comfort that is relatively new to us.

For a house setup for no AC, it can be done. Lots of fans, big open spaces, plenty of trees for shade on a house. Then a living space isn't an oven. In a small cheap apartment place, living without AC makes those economy size living spaces a 400 square foot oven. You'd have to be daft to think otherwise.

Look, next time you think you can go without AC try this little experiment for me. Wait for 100+ degree weather. Get in your car. Drive to a walmart parking lot. Keep the windows up, and turn off your car. Now sit there for 8 hours. Tell us all about it later.

 

[Mursilis]

Too hard to keep track, just end welfare all together.

This.

 

[Red Dawn]

Um, no. Obviously not. Now, if they were receiving it because they were actually unable to work or something (which would be disability, correct?), then people should have a few things to keep them happy honestly, but if you're just leeching off the government like probably 90% of both recipients, fuck no.

What do you suggest, a Hotline so you can Rat them out?

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Don't be hate'in just because you seen me loadin my foodstamp groceries in the back of my Bentley yo!

I hadz money when I bought the Bentley, but now I don't :whiste:

 

[piasabird]

So why are hospitals air conditioned?

 

[xj0hnx]

For a house setup for no AC, it can be done. Lots of fans, big open spaces, plenty of trees for shade on a house. Then a living space isn't an oven. In a small cheap apartment place, living without AC makes those economy size living spaces a 400 square foot oven. You'd have to be daft to think otherwise.

Look, next time you think you can go without AC try this little experiment for me. Wait for 100+ degree weather. Get in your car. Drive to a walmart parking lot. Keep the windows up, and turn off your car. Now sit there for 8 hours. Tell us all about it later.

🙄

Not exactly lots of 400sqft apartments and houses with no windows, or fans, even the projects have windows. I don't have to experiment with anything, I've lived in South Texas for decades, and many of those years was without AC. It's not always comfortable, but AC is most definitely NOT a necessity.