Food Stamps / Dependency

[jon33dn 0]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-05/food-stamp-recipients-at-record-41-8-million-americans-in-july-u-s-says.html

 

Food stamp use is at an all time high. I don't want to see people go hungry, but this kind of dependency on the government is an inherently bad thing.

[Synoptico 342]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-05/food-stamp-recipients-at-record-41-8-million-americans-in-july-u-s-says.html

 

Food stamp use is at an all time high. I don't want to see people go hungry, but this kind of dependency on the government is an inherently bad thing.

 

Dependency on anything is a bad thing if you ask me.

[corysold 0]

I can't see it ending well when 45% of Americans get some sort of Govt. assistance and 44% don't pay any tax.

[Tenacious_ND 0]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-05/food-stamp-recipients-at-record-41-8-million-americans-in-july-u-s-says.html

 

Food stamp use is at an all time high. I don't want to see people go hungry, but this kind of dependency on the government is an inherently bad thing.

 

this makes sense right now.. i had a neighbor(civil engineer) who was able to get food stamps after he got laid off. he said it helped out immensely. he got lucky and landed a new job about a month later. im sure a lot of people laid off people are using food stamps. especially one income families.

[Tenacious_ND 0]

I can't see it ending well when 45% of Americans get some sort of Govt. assistance and 44% don't pay any tax.

 

we also have a lot of rich people at the top who dont pay enough..

[jon33dn 0]

we also have a lot of rich people at the top who dont pay enough..

 

Kind of a morally vacant argument to have some pay nothing and others who are actually footing the bill decried as "not paying enough"

 

Do we have to get out the IRS numbers of who pays (top 10% or earners) for the government again?

[Tenacious_ND 0]

Kind of a morally vacant argument to have some pay nothing and others who are actually footing the bill decried as "not paying enough"

 

Do we have to get out the IRS numbers of who pays (top 10% or earners) for the government again?

 

dont care.. rich need to be taxed all to hell...

[corysold 0]

dont care.. rich need to be taxed all to hell...

 

Sure, let's take money from the rich so they have less to spend to boost the economy, that makes sense. And punishing the rich sounds like a great way to motivate people. Either work hard and make money so the govt can take it, or sit on your ass and have them give it too you. Seems like a great system.

[Tenacious_ND 0]

Sure, let's take money from the rich so they have less to spend to boost the economy, that makes sense. And punishing the rich sounds like a great way to motivate people. Either work hard and make money so the govt can take it, or sit on your ass and have them give it too you. Seems like a great system.

 

yeah because when your super rich and only have a net worth of 20 million instead of 40 you start to tighten up your spending! :facepalm:

 

 

btw. your a christian right?... what would jesus want? if you read the bible he comes off as a socialist. ;D

[jon33dn 0]

yeah because when your super rich and only have a net worth of 20 million instead of 40 you start to tighten up your spending! :facepalm:

 

 

btw. your a christian right?... what would jesus want? if you read the bible he comes off as a socialist. ;D

 

ooooh... oooooh..... can i suggest that the separation of church and state should take such moralizing out of governance?

[corysold 0]

yeah because when your super rich and only have a net worth of 20 million instead of 40 you start to tighten up your spending! :facepalm:

 

 

btw. your a christian right?... what would jesus want? if you read the bible he comes off as a socialist. ;D

 

Wasn't it Jesus who lauded the old lady for giving her last two cents to the church? That would make it appear he wants everyone to chip in.

[jon33dn 0]

Wasn't it Jesus who lauded the old lady for giving her last two cents to the church? That would make it appear he wants everyone to chip in.

 

It's obviously out of context, but Christ preached that we all have to do our part to help our fellow man, and was not addressing the concept of governmental involvement. In His time government was not a thought of as in any way beneficial, but rather as imposed power to be tolerated and complied with, all the while staying focused on God.

 

I like that our government now wants to try and help its citizens, but it comes at the cost of dependency and an inevitable erosion of freedoms... a cost too high for me.

[potownhero 0]

yeah because when your super rich and only have a net worth of 20 million instead of 40 you start to tighten up your spending! :facepalm:

 

 

btw. your a christian right?... what would jesus want? if you read the bible he comes off as a socialist. ;D

 

Only to the simple minded.

 

Did Jesus take anyone's money by force? No, he preached charity. Individual has the option...big difference.

[Tenacious_ND 0]

It's obviously out of context, but Christ preached that we all have to do our part to help our fellow man, and was not addressing the concept of governmental involvement. In His time government was not a thought of as in any way beneficial, but rather as imposed power to be tolerated and complied with, all the while staying focused on God.

 

I like that our government now wants to try and help its citizens, but it comes at the cost of dependency and an inevitable erosion of freedoms... a cost too high for me.

 

erosion of freedoms?? explain?

 

i think jesus would be happy to know that we are trying to make sure that we take care of each other. I dont think he would be happy with the current distribution of the wealth in the world. you are correct though too many people are becoming dependent on handouts and have no will to do things on their own. thats why welfare shouldn't be free, there should be some work involved to earn it.(picking up trash on highways)

[PJacksonsDred15 110]

Corporate Welfare far outweighs the welfare to the needy in this country. When Exxon Mobil and GE pay zero in federal taxes to the US Government, yet use our roads and infrastructure to make their money, there is a serious problem. If people focused on corporate welfare instead of the smoke and mirrors of indigent hand outs that the poor receive, the tax bill would be lower to all income earners. If all corporations were taxed at a fixed rate, we could lower the tax obligations on everybody, including income earners who make 250,000 or more. If we limited both types of welfare, man, we might actually have a fair tax in this country.

Edited October 7, 2010 by PJackson'sDred15

[jessemoore97 1,309]

There's two words that'll never go together PJ, "fair" and "tax". lol

[chirodomer 47]

think jesus would be happy to know that we are trying to make sure that we take care of each other. I dont think he would be happy with the current distribution of the wealth in the world. you are correct though too many people are becoming dependent on handouts and have no will to do things on their own. thats why welfare shouldn't be free, there should be some work involved to earn it.(picking up trash on highways)

 

The story of the "talents" comes to mind. The servant who didn't put his money to work had his money taken away by his master and it was given the servant who put all of his money to work. I think that is in Matthew. Father Phil spoke last weekend about people having the faith of a mustard seed. One little seed will feed a ton of birds. Seed just does what it is meant to do. Sprout and bear more seeds. He likened it to a businessman who invests his money into his business to bear more money. The farmer has faith that if he plants seeds in spring that he will harvest in the fall. The rich people will eventually stop planting seeds if there is NO harvest to be to be reaped. Nothing is FREE in life. There should be no free handouts to people not making an effort. If you are crippled then you could volunteer time talking to old people at a nursing home.

Edited October 8, 2010 by chirodomer

[Texham 0]

Corporate Welfare far outweighs the welfare to the needy in this country. When Exxon Mobil and GE pay zero in federal taxes to the US Government' date=' yet use our roads and infrastructure to make their money, there is a serious problem. If people focused on corporate welfare instead of the smoke and mirrors of indigent hand outs that the poor receive, the tax bill would be lower to all income earners. If all corporations were taxed at a fixed rate, we could lower the tax obligations on everybody, including income earners who make 250,000 or more. If we limited both types of welfare, man, we might actually have a fair tax in this country.[/quote']

 

Where did your notion that Exxon pays zero taxes come from? A quick look at their 10-k this year shows they paid just over $15 billion in income tax for an effective rate of 47 pct. How much more do you want? The total amount of tax they paid was $78.6 billion.

 

The more important concern I have though is the concept you and many others seem to have that a dollar of tax collected from a corporation is one that doesnt have to be collected from individuals. Who do you think actually pays the corporate tax? Do you not think that profit making companies don't pass this tax on to the consumers of their products and services?

 

I completely agree with you on tax fairness PJack. The US tax code is an abomination created by special interests willing to fund Congressmen who are continually running for office. Unfortunately the only solution to that issue I see is a much more informed electorate or term limits.

[PJacksonsDred15 110]

Where did your notion that Exxon pays zero taxes come from? A quick look at their 10-k this year shows they paid just over $15 billion in income tax for an effective rate of 47 pct. How much more do you want? The total amount of tax they paid was $78.6 billion.

 

The more important concern I have though is the concept you and many others seem to have that a dollar of tax collected from a corporation is one that doesnt have to be collected from individuals. Who do you think actually pays the corporate tax? Do you not think that profit making companies don't pass this tax on to the consumers of their products and services?

 

I completely agree with you on tax fairness PJack. The US tax code is an abomination created by special interests willing to fund Congressmen who are continually running for office. Unfortunately the only solution to that issue I see is a much more informed electorate or term limits.

 

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Tax/ge-exxon-paid-us-income-taxes-09/story?id=10300167

 

Here is an article for you. GE and Exxon Mobil paid Uncle Sam a big fat squadoosh last year. Many companies don't pay a dime.

 

Exxons 15 billion in income tax all went overseas to foreign governments.

Edited October 8, 2010 by PJackson'sDred15

[jon33dn 0]

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Tax/ge-exxon-paid-us-income-taxes-09/story?id=10300167

 

Here is an article for you.

 

all that proves is that we should not have such a massive bureaucracy which is susceptible to such manipulation.