Your tax dollars at work

[Purseval]

Gotta admire the man's thriftiness, I suppose.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_local...gan-lottery-winner-defends-use-of-food-stamps

 

[sydneysmom]

he should be ashamed. he's gotten a gift and continues to take food stamps? Terrible. I'd hate to see the mouth he's taking the food out of.....could be that of a child. I hope he sleeps well at night.

 

[disneylove69]

Hope every charity knocking on his 24/7. Maybe hell lose it all like most winners. Its just sick!

 

[mrsklamc]

Wonder how much he spent on lottery tickets over the years while ON food stamps.

 

[Purseval]

Wonder how much he spent on lottery tickets over the years while ON food stamps.

Good question, I was thinking about that myself. Between that and his supersized sense of entitlement do you think he would have just sucked it up and waited until his next allotment if he went broke buying tickets or go to the government for another handout?

 

[GinnyEmma]

Some people have no redeeming qualities. This sounds like one.

 

[Purseval]

Some people have no redeeming qualities. This sounds like one.

Well, Cinderella Man he ain't

 

[Muushka]

he should be ashamed. he's gotten a gift and continues to take food stamps? Terrible. I'd hate to see the mouth he's taking the food out of.....could be that of a child. I hope he sleeps well at night.

I agree that them man should be ashamed of himself. But more to the point, the welfare system should be more ashamed of the system that it allows people to do this (apparently windfalls don't affect food stamp beneficiaries).

Also, with nearly forty million people on food stamps, I doubt that there are many kids going hungry.

 

[GinnyEmma]

Unfortunately children do go hungry. Usually because the food funds are traded for drugs, alcohol and smokes. I saw a little girl recently who was eating leftover cereal from her neighbor's trash.

 

[Muushka]

Unfortunately children do go hungry. Usually because the food funds are traded for drugs, alcohol and smokes. I saw a little girl recently who was eating leftover cereal from her neighbor's trash.

Yes, that may be true, but giving the perps more welfare money for food is not going to help that child, sadly.

 

[GinnyEmma]

Yes, that may be true, but giving the perps more welfare money for food is not going to help that child, sadly.

You are right of course. That one is still a bit raw for me.

Laws need to be tweaked even more. They are better than they were 30
Years ago.

 

[eliza61]

You are right of course. That one is still a bit raw for me.

Laws need to be tweaked even more. They are better than they were 30
Years ago.

that's the rub. the food stamp program is a great one but we need to keep on top of it to make sure abuses like this can't happen. The program was started before lotteries became big money makers t hat they are so no way could the system have predicted that some idiot would be doing this.

His state is going to go after him from what I read. They are pushing a bill through as we speak to close this loophole.

Not everyone who benefits from food stamps is a con man. so let's stop portraying those who need a helping hand as criminal. this is one man.

 

[Muushka]

that's the rub. the food stamp program is a great one but we need to keep on top of it to make sure abuses like this can't happen. The program was started before lotteries became big money makers t hat they are so no way could the system have predicted that some idiot would be doing this.

His state is going to go after him from what I read. They are pushing a bill through as we speak to close this loophole.

Not everyone who benefits from food stamps is a con man. so let's stop portraying those who need a helping hand as criminal. this is one man.

Hi E

I don't think anyone was portraying everyone who needs a helping hand as a criminal (or perp, as I put it).
But I think any parent who chooses to trade food credits for drugs or whatever instead of feeding their child is a criminal.
But at least these children will get breakfast and lunch during school.
That's the problem when the government is in charge of running programs. There is too much abuse and waste.

 

[tomthebarncat]

I sent the link from Yahoo to Jon Stewart's Daily Show and to Stephen Colbert's show, also. This is the stuff they love to lampoon, and I hope they do use it on their shows!! this is wrong on so many levels, and clearly the idiot has no pride or he would not continue to feed his family at the taxpayers expense. What a loser and his parents should be so proud, this makes me glad that I don't live in the states nor do I pay US taxes. It is not my tax dollars at work...but my hubby does pay Michigan and federal taxes and he wanted to know where this idiot was from!! Saginaw!!

 

[kristenrice]

You want to see your tax dollars at work? Come and ride in my ambulance with me for a night. It will definitely open your eyes to why healthcare is so expensive.

Public intoxication is not a crime (here, anyways) because alcoholism is classified as a disease. Therefore, someone who is publicly inebriated does not go to jail. Instead, they get an ambulance ride to the emergency room where they "sleep it off". This generates an ambulance bill and an ER bill. A lot of our "regulars" know the system. They acquire liquor (probably not legally), drink themselves silly and then lie down on the sidewalks along the major streets. Somebody drives by, sees them lying on the ground, has pity on them and calls 911 (*which is the right thing to do! I'm not doggin' the callers). We show up and have to take them to the hospital because they are "acutely ill" as a result of their chronic condition. (Most of these are homeless gentlemen who prefer to "live" in the emergency room than stay at the shelter. Some of them are transported MORE THAN ONCE A DAY!)

I go to houses all the time where the only source of light is the 60" plasma TV that is hooked up to the surround sound system and XBox 360. That person called 911 because they have a fever and they don't have a car to get to the pharmacy for some tylenol. They call 911 so that the ambulance will take them to the ER instead. That is some expensive Tylenol that Medicaid is now paying for. Due to liability issues, we can't refuse to take them to the hospital either.

It's a daily reminder that our society (government) has removed any sense of personal responsibility. I agree wholeheartedly with the concept of benevolence, but too many people have gotten their "rights" mixed up with their "privileges". The government now subsidizes cell phones for low-income people. Since when is a cell phone a "right"? Pretty soon, everyone will have the "right" to a car....the "right" to a HDTV...the "right" to free housing... Too many able-bodied people are choosing to do other things with their lives than be productive members of society. They'd rather let the government pay for them to live in this country.

This guy needs to have his Bridge card PRIVILEGES revoked....permanently.

 

[eliza61]

You want to see your tax dollars at work? Come and ride in my ambulance with me for a night. It will definitely open your eyes to why healthcare is so expensive.

Public intoxication is not a crime (here, anyways) because alcoholism is classified as a disease. Therefore, someone who is publicly inebriated does not go to jail. Instead, they get an ambulance ride to the emergency room where they "sleep it off". This generates an ambulance bill and an ER bill. A lot of our "regulars" know the system. They acquire liquor (probably not legally), drink themselves silly and then lie down on the sidewalks along the major streets. Somebody drives by, sees them lying on the ground, has pity on them and calls 911 (*which is the right thing to do! I'm not doggin' the callers). We show up and have to take them to the hospital because they are "acutely ill" as a result of their chronic condition. (Most of these are homeless gentlemen who prefer to "live" in the emergency room than stay at the shelter. Some of them are transported MORE THAN ONCE A DAY!)

I go to houses all the time where the only source of light is the 60" plasma TV that is hooked up to the surround sound system and XBox 360. That person called 911 because they have a fever and they don't have a car to get to the pharmacy for some tylenol. They call 911 so that the ambulance will take them to the ER instead. That is some expensive Tylenol that Medicaid is now paying for. Due to liability issues, we can't refuse to take them to the hospital either.

It's a daily reminder that our society (government) has removed any sense of personal responsibility. I agree wholeheartedly with the concept of benevolence, but too many people have gotten their "rights" mixed up with their "privileges". The government now subsidizes cell phones for low-income people. Since when is a cell phone a "right"? Pretty soon, everyone will have the "right" to a car....the "right" to a HDTV...the "right" to free housing... Too many able-bodied people are choosing to do other things with their lives than be productive members of society. They'd rather let the government pay for them to live in this country.

This guy needs to have his Bridge card PRIVILEGES revoked....permanently.

kristen, do you know the regulations behind the "cell phones"? I'm thinking you don't

1) the government does not give money for the cell phones. cell phone companys in conjuction with communication companies agree to provide this service for tax credits and tax breaks.

2) Many welfare recepients that get the cell phones have the cost of their minutes taken out of the monthly stipend. So if they get 50 bucks in cell phone minutes a lot of times their welfare payment is reduced by that amount.

3) 65% of the phones do not have minutes that the person can use any time. A large majority of them can only call emergency services.
4) Lastly, IT IS NOT A federally funded program. yes the companies get a tax credit but beside the fact that it is administored by the fcc, the phone companies handle it.

Basically yes, though not in the sense one might assume. Apart from being administered by the FCC, it's not a federally-funded program. Since its inception, the program has been financed via the pooled contributions of commercial phone service providers, which in turn impose small monthly fees on their regular customers to recoup the cost

fcc.com

Once again, I definitely agree that there is abuse in the system but go to your welfare office and ask them the real deal behind those "phones". Like every thing you see on tv, it's is not all that easier or glorious.

Here are a few articles you may find interesting.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/cellphone.asp

http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/barackobama/a/obama_phone_free_cell_phones.htm

 

[brymolmom]

I don't need links to the cell phone things I know someone who personallly gets one....And does feel entitled to it....and hasn't worked a day in about 15 years. He is my brother and he is a drug addict. He isn't restricted on his numbers either. He usually uses them to call my mom and beg for money and make her feel guilty. Now THAT'S worth the $$.

And even if it isn't federally funded...I'm guessing those tax breaks end up coming out of our pockets in the end.

THe thing is if everyone was a person of integrity - likely many of our programs would work. But the truth of it is, as with any group of people, some will always be looking for a loophole or some other way to take advantage. Heck - look how many times a month we have disagreements on the DIS about whether or not to pass a 3 year old as a 2 year old - it happens at every level of society, not just one.

The man in this story, while obviously within his rights to do so, has absolutely no class or integrity for continuing to use a benefit that he does not need. You'd think that someone who has been in a position of need and knows what it is like to truly NEED food stamps would not take advantage like that. Which makes me wonder if he was truly ever in need or always was just taking advantage....

 

[YukiPhnx]

I think the thing that affected most about OP's article is that Michigan does not allow students to get food stamps anymore.

With the rise of tuition in North America, some students are struggling just to be able to afford tuition and actually stay in school and many of them really need those food stamps! Not everybody is privileged to have a well-off family that can care for their daily needs.

I think that's pretty sad.

Also, if something IS done about this man by making this waiver happen, I don't want to think of those other people that need food stamps but won't be able to get it now.

 

[eliza61]

I don't need links to the cell phone things I know someone who personallly gets one....And does feel entitled to it....and hasn't worked a day in about 15 years. He is my brother and he is a drug addict. He isn't restricted on his numbers either. He usually uses them to call my mom and beg for money and make her feel guilty. Now THAT'S worth the $$.

And even if it isn't federally funded...I'm guessing those tax breaks end up coming out of our pockets in the end.

THe thing is if everyone was a person of integrity - likely many of our programs would work. But the truth of it is, as with any group of people, some will always be looking for a loophole or some other way to take advantage. Heck - look how many times a month we have disagreements on the DIS about whether or not to pass a 3 year old as a 2 year old - it happens at every level of society, not just one.

The man in this story, while obviously within his rights to do so, has absolutely no class or integrity for continuing to use a benefit that he does not need. You'd think that someone who has been in a position of need and knows what it is like to truly NEED food stamps would not take advantage like that. Which makes me wonder if he was truly ever in need or always was just taking advantage....

so by your argument, get rid of a good system because there are bad apples.

Let's see, since Enron ripped off it's employees should we get rid of all pension plans.

Since Bernie madoff ripped off his clients should we now get rid of all retirement plans?

Never in the history of man has every one acted with integrity. Not being snarky but that's where the term criminal comes from.

Yeah the man in the yahoo piece is a $%$ but statistically the system works very well.

Oh and like I said, the state the gentlemen is in, is quickly passing legislation to close that loop hole. I think it's Michigan

Many food stamp recipients work. Over one fourth (28 percent) of food stamp households have earnings, up from 19 percent in 1990. For these households, earnings are the primary source of income.

The majority of food stamp households do not receive cash welfare benefits. Less than one in six (17 percent) received TANF benefits, down from 42 percent in 1990. Twenty-eight percent received Supplemental Security Income. Almost one quarter (23 percent) received Social Security benefits.

Food stamp households have little income. Less than 12 percent are above the poverty line, while 38 percent have incomes at or below half the poverty line. Twelve percent had no cash income of any kind. The typical food stamp household had gross income of $640 per month and received a monthly food stamp benefit of $185. Over one-fifth of monthly funds (cash income plus food stamps) available to a typical household come from food stamps.

Food stamp households possess few resources. The average food stamp household possesses only about $154 in countable resources (including the non-excluded portion of vehicles and the entire value of checking and savings accounts and other savings).

Sorry your brother is a jerk but drug addicts have not been known to be the most honorable people but I certainly don't want a kid going hungry because less than 5% work the system to defraud it.

 

[Colleen27]

The most disgusting part is that closing the loophole is going to end up hurting a lot of truly needy families because it'll mean that EITC checks, SSI lump-sums, and other "windfalls" that the poor depend on to catch up obligations that they have fallen behind on or to take care of annual expenses like property taxes will now end up disqualifying them, however temporarily, from food stamps. And case workers will have to deal with the increased workload of closing thousands of cases every tax season only to reopen them a month or two later when those funds are spent. All because of one loser and the great attention-grabbing story that he handed our sensationalist press.