What is a "government handout"?

[NCRedding]

I know we don't have enough controversial/heated discussions going on here, but I am curious. Over the last few months there have been numerous discussions about the earned income credit, food stamps, WIC, etc. In them, people are quoted as saying, "this (WIC/EIC) is a government handout" or "this (WIC/EIC) isn't a government handout?"

in your opinion, what constitutes a "government handout" ?

 

[eclectics]

If the government help goes to people who truly need it and appreciate it, I have no problem with calling it government aid. If it goes to people who scam the system and commit fraud or to people that consider it some sort of birthright, then I wouldn't correct people who call it a handout. Of course a lot of conservatives call any social program no matter who recieves the aid, a "handout" .

 

[bicker]

Whether or not the folks receiving it need it, it is still a hand-out. The threshold needs to be whether or not the person can make their way in our society through some means that doesn't rely on public support. If the person is so limited in function that they cannot make their own way, then the government aid is in the public interest. Otherwise, extended periods of public support are deterious to society, fostering a sense of unwarranted entitlement, which permeates through the rest of the society, and thereby into waste and sub-optimization in all sectors.

 

[Christine]

To me, a government handout is when you are giving $$$, assistance, whatever (it is all money) without having earned it.

Earned income credit, in many cases, is cash back at the end of the tax year--cash that you never paid into the system. That is a handout. Now whether it is truly needed or scammed makes no difference to me.

 

[mrsltg]

It's all a handout. Anything not specifically enumerated as a government function (ie, provide for the defense of the country) is a handout. The government has NO money. It takes money from people and gives it to others. This is a handout.

 

[porterbl1]

A hand out is the opposite of a hand up. We need to help people take care of themselves and their families. Not give them incentive to have more children and not get paying jobs in order to keep their benefits.
-Becca

 

[SC Minnie]

We were on WIC right after DD was born. DH was laid off from his job when she was a couple of weeks old. It took him over 8 months to find a job. Due do issues when she was born she couldn't BF and I was too stressed at the time to learn to pump. So we had to go with formula which is dang expensive. I was still working and paying taxes and DH had worked and paid taxes for 20 years at the time. Neither of us had ever asked for public assistance before this. I was actually embarrassed using WIC because I felt like people were looking down at me. We needed this program to help during a rough spot and as soon as DH got another job we went off the program.

Personally I believe these programs were designed to help people in short term financial problems until they get back on their feet. Too many people are using these programs (WIC, FS, etc) as a way of life.

IMO, if you are not or have not worked and paid taxes into the 'pot' and then you receive this help then yes, it is a handout.

 

[mickeyfan2]

To me, a government handout is when you are giving $$$, assistance, whatever (it is all money) without having earned it.

Earned income credit, in many cases, is cash back at the end of the tax year--cash that you never paid into the system. That is a handout. Now whether it is truly needed or scammed makes no difference to me.

ITA

It is income if one works for it, a handout if it is give to the person by the government and charity if given by a private person or organization.

 

[Bob Slydell]

It's all a handout. Anything not specifically enumerated as a government function (ie, provide for the defense of the country) is a handout. The government has NO money. It takes money from people and gives it to others. This is a handout.

Any assistance from the government is a handout. It's just that our society has placed a negative stigma on the word "handout" for some reason.

 

[Disney Doll]

It's aid when you are a normal hard-working person who has fallen on hard times and needs assistance for a finite period of time to get back on your feet. Finite is the operative word in that sentence.

It's aid if you are physically or mentally unable to work to earn enough money to support yourself and/or your family adequately.

It's a handout when you are perfectly able, but unwilling, to work.

 

[Disney Doll]

We were on WIC right after DD was born. DH was laid off from his job when she was a couple of weeks old. It took him over 8 months to find a job. Due do issues when she was born she couldn't BF and I was too stressed at the time to learn to pump. So we had to go with formula which is dang expensive. I was still working and paying taxes and DH had worked and paid taxes for 20 years at the time. Neither of us had ever asked for public assistance before this. I was actually embarrassed using WIC because I felt like people were looking down at me. We needed this program to help during a rough spot and as soon as DH got another job we went off the program.

Personally I believe these programs were designed to help people in short term financial problems until they get back on their feet. Too many people are using these programs (WIC, FS, etc) as a way of life.

IMO, if you are not or have not worked and paid taxes into the 'pot' and then you receive this help then yes, it is a handout.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. You used the assistance the way it was intended to be used...to help you through a difficult period of time.

Nothing wrong with that at all.

 

[Viking]

Could someone please post the full meaning of WIC/EIC?
I assume that it is something like charity/vouchers, but would like to know the meaning of the akronym.
Thanks

 

[Bob Slydell]

Could someone please post the full meaning of WIC/EIC?
I assume that it is something like charity/vouchers, but would like to know the meaning of the akronym.
Thanks

WIC = Women, Infants and Children (http://www.fns.usda.gov/wic/) It's designed to help low-income women feed their children.

EIC = Earned Income Credit. It's a tax law that gives low income families an additional tax credit at the end of the year.

 

[SC Minnie]

Could someone please post the full meaning of WIC/EIC?
I assume that it is something like charity/vouchers, but would like to know the meaning of the akronym.
Thanks

WIC-- is Women Infants and Children. It is government assistance. 12 years ago they gave you vouchers that you could use on cereals, milk, eggs, baby formula, cheese, etc. They sent you a list of what a brands/kinds were approved and what wasn't.

 

[Viking]

Danke schön, Bob & Minnie
That was quick!!!