As the new saying goes: Oh SNAP!

[Opti]

Looks like the change was purely for the retailers, also recipients of SNAP
benefits. For people new to SNAP it probably will be just annoying, but
for recipients it seems inconvient for those who aren't lucky enough to have
lastnames at the start of the alphabet. This I think is an example of how
most of the changes to SNAP are driven by the business community and not
at all by the actual recipients themselves.

Michelyn, I admit I'm surprised they didn't remove benefits from your card.
I wonder if that's common for every state. (I wish there was a learned
something new emoticon. -fallintostocking-I think a gift is as close as we have got.)

[michelyn8]

Dec 16, 2013 13:00:16 GMT -5 Opti said:

Looks like the change was purely for the retailers, also recipients of SNAP
benefits. For people new to SNAP it probably will be just annoying, but
for recipients it seems inconvient for those who aren't lucky enough to have
lastnames at the start of the alphabet. This I think is an example of how
most of the changes to SNAP are driven by the business community and not
at all by the actual recipients themselves.

Michelyn, I admit I'm surprised they didn't remove benefits from your card.
I wonder if that's common for every state. (I wish there was a learned
something new emoticon. -fallintostocking-I think a gift is as close as we have got.)

Keep in mind that was 7 years ago so things very well could have changed since then. 

Also, at that time, I qualified for TANF (welfare) and was given an option of how it could be paid.  One was a monthly payment less the amount I was due in CS or I could receive a lump sum.  With the lump sum, I was to provide the names and amounts of creditors I wanted paid and Social Services cut checks to them on my behalf.  I also would not receive any further TANF funds for at least 90 days or maybe it was six months - I'm not sure.  I went with the lump sum because I didn't know if my ex would stay consistent on the CS and they sent checks for my rent, light bill and a portion of my car payment (not enough left for a full payment).  That worked out well for me since it got those off my back for at least a short while. 

Again, I found work less than two months and didn't need to ask for more help so I don't know what other assistance I could have received.  I was out of work nearly a month before I swallowed my pride and applied for what I did get.  I'm grateful that it was there to help but like so many, get very unhappy when I see those that seem to be making a career off of it.   

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2013/12/15/waiting-for-the-8th/?tid=sm_fb

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

Cut it ALL! Cut it ALL NOW!!!

[zibazinski]

[zibazinski]

Why wouldn't her social worker give that young woman a good reference for a job or a school where she could learn a trade or a job skill that would translate into a real job. This is why it s generational. One bad parent can poison a whole new generation. But that young woman is salvageable if she got some REAL help.

[Deleted]

The daughter has applied to jobs, and tried training programs... That is the harder part, I think... She seems to be losing hope. She didn't want to follow that path... Doesn't... 

24% unemployment in Ward 8..,

[Opti]

Its sad, but PBP's "solution" doesn't really help either.
The daughter needs help finding work and eventually
moving away.


Mom sadly picked her life and needs to come up with plans
of how to survive when the kids are gone. Enough jobs will
weed out a lot of those who really don't want to be on these
programs.


Maybe we can all pray a job opportunity into the girl's life.

[shelby]

Dec 16, 2013 16:56:09 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2013/12/15/waiting-for-the-8th/?tid=sm_fb

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

Cut it ALL! Cut it ALL NOW!!!

What exactly has you so offended in the article? Is it this paragraph?

"The ads made it sound so easy to get a job in the budding economic recovery of 2013 - "Hiring now!" one read; "Start tomorrow!" promised another - but recent experience made Tiara believe she had better odds "playing lotto," she said. The unemployment rate in Ward 8 was 24 percent, triple the national average, and there were an estimated 13 job seekers for every open position. She had been offered a security job, but first the company wanted $500 to train her. Marriott had openings at a new hotel, but the application required her to submit a background check online. So she had gone to the police station and paid $9 for a form showing that she had no criminal record. And then enrolled with a nonprofit group that gave out free computers and scanners, since the ones at the nearby library always seemed to be broken. And then learned that she could only pick up the computer in Rockville, four bus transfers and a Metro ride away."

[zibazinski]

Shocking! You might have to move to where jobs are. Best thing for her to get the hell away from that mother.

[Opti]

Zib, how is she going to move? She has no money of her own.


It needs to be a step by step process. Get a job. Move up in that
employer or get a skill that allows you to find a job elsewhere.
Move somewhere cheaper or at the very least get into affordable
housing by herself until her work life can make her self sufficient.
I think if she had the money she might do the buy a bus pass and
hope for the best. Not a great option as many her age might end
up as prostitutes to survive versus a working citizen like she aspires to be.

Mom's warped, but she's got a shot.

[shelby]

Dec 16, 2013 19:07:36 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

Shocking! You might have to move to where jobs are. Best thing for her to get the hell away from that mother.

Yes but with no job and no money where exactly is she going to go?

[zibazinski]

North Dakota!!!    Seriously, there are jobs. Grand Rapids can't find enough people who will actually show up to work. So if you're reliable and breathing and can pass the first drug test, you're in.

[shelby]

Dec 16, 2013 19:20:00 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

North Dakota!!!    Seriously, there are jobs. Grand Rapids can't find enough people who will actually show up to work. So if you're reliable and breathing and can pass the first drug test, you're in.

Then how about we set up a relocation fund for this young lady and make sure her mom can't get her hands on it

[zibazinski]

I'd do it if the daughter would move and try gainful employment.

[The Captain]

24% unemployment.  Half empty.

3 out of 4 people who want a job, have one - Half full.

I'm very disturbed by her mother, whom considers making it through HS without a rap sheet or getting knocked up a "miracle".

Now tell me again how welfare does not create generational dependence?

[Miss Tequila]

41 years old, 6 kids by 5 different baby daddies. Was this article designed to garner sympathy? If so, it failed miserably. That woman represents everything that is wrong with welfare.

And what happened to term limits?

[billisonboard]

Dec 16, 2013 16:56:09 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

www.washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2013/12/15/waiting-for-the-8th/?tid=sm_fb

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

Cut it ALL! Cut it ALL NOW!!!

Phew! Thanks for the reminder. I almost forgot. My wife wanted me to record A Diva's Christmas Carol on Lifetime tonight.

[zibazinski]

Oh, horse shit. I'm so tired of blaming the republicans for everyone's bad choices. I get that she could make ONE mistake but she made a half dozen of them with no means of supporting herself, let alone her children. If we stopped paying women to have babies, maybe, just maybe, they think before having them. Plenty of parents out there wanting to adopt no matter what the race is. You can't support yourself, let alone your baby? Here's the answer. Just not the one you want. If we stopped pissing away money on people working the system, we might have some money to get the young woman in this case some money for a good school. Just another example of punishing those who make good choices and rewarding those that don't.

[Miss Tequila]

Dec 16, 2013 23:57:15 GMT -5 @patstab said:

She could prostitute herself to get to Dakota, maybe that would get her food. Hopefully she could still get

birth control so she doesn't end up like mom.

The cost of living there is horrendous, no housing available, and its colder then anything. So again she would have to prostitute herself to have a place to stay and a bit to eat till she could find a job. She has no car, no clothes to amount to anything no nothing. Zib, I want to know how she accomplishes this. And you cannot sleep outside up there you would quickly freeze to death.

It's going to get worse for these people. Will starving them down make them get jobs in a 24% UE situation.

I agree very poor judgement to have 5 kids by different men. That tells me instead of getting rid of birth control and abortion like the repubs want we need to increase it or we are going to have more and more of these people like this. The situation is bad but their remedy spells total disaster. The other is cut them off as Paul says and be willing to accept people starving in the streets and dying, that's what N Korea does.

I'm confused...as far as I know both birth control and abortion ARE legal, correct?  We can't force someone to kill their babies or to be responsible. 

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Dec 16, 2013 23:57:15 GMT -5 @patstab said:

She could prostitute herself to get to Dakota, maybe that would get her food. Hopefully she could still get

birth control so she doesn't end up like mom.

The cost of living there is horrendous, no housing available, and its colder then anything. So again she would have to prostitute herself to have a place to stay and a bit to eat till she could find a job. She has no car, no clothes to amount to anything no nothing. Zib, I want to know how she accomplishes this. And you cannot sleep outside up there you would quickly freeze to death.

It's going to get worse for these people. Will starving them down make them get jobs in a 24% UE situation.

I agree very poor judgement to have 5 kids by different men. That tells me instead of getting rid of birth control and abortion like the repubs want we need to increase it or we are going to have more and more of these people like this. The situation is bad but their remedy spells total disaster. The other is cut them off as Paul says and be willing to accept people starving in the streets and dying, that's what N Korea does.

And that would be different than spreading her legs for the state, how?  And better she prostitute herself than the state keep butt raping me.  But I digress- this whole line of thinking is completely ridiculous.  She has options- my sister had two kids with a drug dealer.  She's now married to a MUCH better man with a degree and a six figure job , she has two bachelor's degrees herself and is an RN.  You can do a lot in 16 years with discipline and focus-- which doesn't involve waiting three hours in a night club to rap for three minutes.  Did you know that national unemployment is just under 8% (17% if you use the real number), but did you know that drops to 4% and 7% with a college degree?  Work still works.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Dec 17, 2013 8:00:28 GMT -5 Miss Tequila said:

Dec 16, 2013 23:57:15 GMT -5 @patstab said:

She could prostitute herself to get to Dakota, maybe that would get her food. Hopefully she could still get

birth control so she doesn't end up like mom.

The cost of living there is horrendous, no housing available, and its colder then anything. So again she would have to prostitute herself to have a place to stay and a bit to eat till she could find a job. She has no car, no clothes to amount to anything no nothing. Zib, I want to know how she accomplishes this. And you cannot sleep outside up there you would quickly freeze to death.

It's going to get worse for these people. Will starving them down make them get jobs in a 24% UE situation.

I agree very poor judgement to have 5 kids by different men. That tells me instead of getting rid of birth control and abortion like the repubs want we need to increase it or we are going to have more and more of these people like this. The situation is bad but their remedy spells total disaster. The other is cut them off as Paul says and be willing to accept people starving in the streets and dying, that's what N Korea does.

I'm confused...as far as I know both birth control and abortion ARE legal, correct?  We can't force someone to kill their babies or to be responsible. 

Yet.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Dec 16, 2013 19:46:25 GMT -5 shelby said:

Dec 16, 2013 19:20:00 GMT -5 zibazinski said:

North Dakota!!!    Seriously, there are jobs. Grand Rapids can't find enough people who will actually show up to work. So if you're reliable and breathing and can pass the first drug test, you're in.

Then how about we set up a relocation fund for this young lady and make sure her mom can't get her hands on it

I started a ministry to buy people off of welfare.  We target young people with her attitude.  They agree to our program's parameters and must accept NO public aid.  However, we provide much more than the government.  We've only been at it a short while-- results to follow.  I want to give it five to ten years to really see. 

[The Captain]

Dec 16, 2013 23:57:15 GMT -5 @patstab said:

She could prostitute herself to get to Dakota, maybe that would get her food. Hopefully she could still get

birth control so she doesn't end up like mom.

The cost of living there is horrendous, no housing available, and its colder then anything. So again she would have to prostitute herself to have a place to stay and a bit to eat till she could find a job. She has no car, no clothes to amount to anything no nothing. Zib, I want to know how she accomplishes this. And you cannot sleep outside up there you would quickly freeze to death.

It's going to get worse for these people. Will starving them down make them get jobs in a 24% UE situation.

I agree very poor judgement to have 5 kids by different men. That tells me instead of getting rid of birth control and abortion like the repubs want we need to increase it or we are going to have more and more of these people like this. The situation is bad but their remedy spells total disaster. The other is cut them off as Paul says and be willing to accept people starving in the streets and dying, that's what N Korea does.

I'm pretty sure birth control costs less than her fake eyelashes or wigs.

Just saying it has everything to do with her poor choices which IMHO are already subsidized far too much by those who make good choices.  I don't think the republicans told her to have unprotected sex with multiple men.

As far as starving, the article is all about the drama - not a single one of those people pictured were underfed.  Instead of buying beans, oatmeal, rice, and other staples that go a long way she's buying juice, pre-made hamburger patties, packaged cereal.  

They have at least one smart phone, oversized speakers, can afford cigarettes and bottled water.  But can't afford food. 

Should those that actually work for a living start paying for her wigs and cigarettes also?

[Tennesseer]

Dec 17, 2013 8:12:30 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

Dec 16, 2013 19:46:25 GMT -5 shelby said:

Then how about we set up a relocation fund for this young lady and make sure her mom can't get her hands on it

I started a ministry to buy people off of welfare.  We target young people with her attitude.  They agree to our program's parameters and must accept NO public aid.  However, we provide much more than the government.  We've only been at it a short while-- results to follow.  I want to give it five to ten years to really see. 

Paul-I would like to help these poor young women (and young men?) by making a donation to your ministry.  Can you please provide (via PM of course) the name and address of your ministry so that I may send you a cashier's check donation.  

These poor young people need all the help they can get to escape poverty.  You are doing a good thing.  With your acknowledgment letter of receiving my donation, can you also send me all the information about your program.  

Thanks in advance for your information.

[workpublic]

Should those that actually work for a living start paying for her wigs and cigarettes also?

of course. you wouldn't want to hurt her "self esteem" would you?

[billisonboard]

Dec 17, 2013 8:12:30 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

... We target young people with her attitude. ... provide much more than the government ... results to follow. ...

If you do a good job of selecting only candidates with specific traits, throw enough resources at those individuals, then you should get great results. That should prove once and for all if you target only select individuals and have plenty of resources to assist them, you will have a successful program. Without the ability to hand select participants and without enough resources, chances of success drop tremendously.

[The Captain]

If by specific traits you refer to someone who want's to get ahead and contribute to society rather than be a victim/drain on society - then yes - that is where the resources should go.

If someone doesn't have any initiative, then that alone will decrease the chances of success.

[Deleted]

After reading this entire thread, I'm amazed once again on the positive benefits of the socialist state, in regards to self reliance and innovation.

[The Captain]

Dec 17, 2013 12:16:30 GMT -5 @patstab said:

It's to late for the mother, but that daughter could be saved. But she doesn't know anything but the ghetto and how do you get her out? How can she get someplace with no money to get a job?

Very good point.  It comes back to the question is it REALLY in the kid's best interest to keep them with parents who are incapable of providing for, or giving a productive example to, them?  What should be done to provide positive examples, or do we honestly believe they don't exist (Oprah, Elvis, Jewel, since she likes to rap - 50 cent).

It's a very slippery slope and I don't have any answers.  I do know that I have seen multiple cases of generational dependence on public support because it what those folks have been raised to expect.

As had been said over and over again, there is nothing but good in a hand up.  It's when dependency becomes a way of life that creates issues. 

[Miss Tequila]

Dec 17, 2013 12:16:30 GMT -5 @patstab said:

It's to late for the mother, but that daughter could be saved. But she doesn't know anything but the ghetto and how do you get her out? How can she get someplace with no money to get a job?

The mother is 41 years old...bullshit that it is too late for her...ffs, I'm 42!  She disgusts me...I can't imagine just doing nothing with my life.