***“It’s the first of the month because Walmart is packed and each person has 2+ carts full of food! I should stand up and just start taking some of their stuff since I help pay for it! It’s crazy how their cart is overflowing with food but mine never is since I actually have to pay for it!!!”
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*What do you think about this statement? Some people do need help financially, and that’s why some of our tax money goes to feeding those poor family’s.
If we didn’t have food stamps at all, how would the poor survive?
I call them parasites, feeding off the government. Since local churches, etc. are exempt from tax, THEY should be helping out these people and not the government.
I think they are a good thing because otherwise a lot of people would go hungry. But then again I'm a bleeding heart liberal on most social issues.
I call them parasites, feeding off the government. Since local churches, etc. are exempt from tax, THEY should be helping out these people and not the government.
I am trying to come up with a statement that is somewhere in between the above two :D
meh.. i'd rather the poor guys eat than give churches and other special interest groups tax breaks.
i don't know anyone on food stamps but how much food can a guy eat off? its not like he's eating more than his allowance is, which is about 200$ a month. big deal...
Its only some of the people who take advantage of the system so I dont see why the rest of the people who genuinely need the food stamps should suffer and not get these.
I am trying to come up with a statement that is somewhere in between the above two :D
The middle ground is over-rated, IMO. This is not even a liberal or conservative issue. Poor should be fed - food stamps are a good thing.
Whoever made the statement in OP's post is either ignorant or has been fed a bunch of bull. Feeding the poor (esp in the US) is not the reason the government is broke. Bailing out the banks, paying Goldman Sachs et al 100 cents on the dollar for the insurance on CDMs, the CEOs of said failed banks getting bonuses to the millions of dollars, the CEO/average schnmuck pay being at all time highs, these are some reasons why govt is broke and getting broker.
This is really tricky. There are so many people who truly NEED the assistance and get the bare minimum (mostly because they have low income jobs or too many kids to feed), and then there are others who are cheating the system and raking in HUNDREDS if not thousands in goverment assistance in a MONTH! I don’t respect and cannot understand when people end up in situations needing assistance because they choose to have children they cannot provide for. It’s wrong and unfair to all involved.
I knew a woman who received $1400 a month in JUST FOOD STAMPS, PLUS cash, and help paying her rent. And her husband doesn’t work. Apparently, he ‘cannot work’ because he’s a very orthodox religious jew whose ‘job’ is to stay in shul and pray all day. Government cannot tell them to go get a job because it would impede on their freedom of religion, She gets so much because she keeps popping out one child after another and the government is left footing the bill. Mind boggling because if they’re so religious, then why are they making everything they’re consuming haram on them by cheating the system?
Personally, I’m against food stamps. I grew up with the belief that Allah swt provides us with our own rizq and gives us as much as we deserve. My parents were immigrants in this country and could have gotten benefits if they so wished, but i’m very proud to say my father never put his hands in front of anyone, not even the government and whatever we ate/wore/were blessed with was a fruit of his hard work and dedication to providing the best living for his family. It may be very ignorant to others, but I see foodstamps/welfare as a form of begging. I feel its haram. That has always been and will always be my stance on this.
And your statement can instantly be nullified if I say welfare is Allah’s way of providing people with the rizq they deserve.
I’m not against welfare, after all, people give charity to the needy don’t they? However, the government ought to keep a closer eye on those receiving welfare that do not work or work very minimal hours; I refuse to help those who don’t help themselves.
Fraud exists in every program, and the government should proactively root it out. Just because fraud exists, one should not just remove a program - but just make it better.
As for some of the welfare recipients not working, is is not as if there are a lot of jobs going around. The unemployment rate (while going down) is quite high, with the rate in the african american population ~ 3X that of average.
If anything, the biggest welfare recipients are the Congressmen, who do nothing, and get life time benefits, while at the same time arguing against "big" government.
God forbid those who sau they are against foood stamps period ever have to face this situation.
The middle ground is over-rated, IMO. This is not even a liberal or conservative issue. Poor should be fed - food stamps are a good thing.
Whoever made the statement in OP's post is either ignorant or has been fed a bunch of bull. Feeding the poor (esp in the US) is not the reason the government is broke. Bailing out the banks, paying Goldman Sachs et al 100 cents on the dollar for the insurance on CDMs, the CEOs of said failed banks getting bonuses to the millions of dollars, the CEO/average schnmuck pay being at all time highs, these are some reasons why govt is broke and getting broker.
Middle ground be damned - pardon my French.
This. Food stamps is a US issue, and the US has a ridiculous amount of wealth among a few individuals. Bill Gates moves entire government organizations with his cheque book, in his pursuit of philanthropy. That said, the government should be strict with welfare as there are individuals who abuse it.
One thing people in Western countries don't realize is that the middle class and social net is one if the key differences between rich countries and poor countries. There are billionaires and millionaires in every country, but it's when the masses are empowered that innovation begins to take off.
I remember when the twins were born, Ammar was not even 2 yrs old yet, I obviously was not working, and having just come out two very expensive rounds of IVF, we were facing crazy bills from the twins' NICU stay, coupled with now 3 kids in diapers at the same time, and the expensive preemie formula for the twins....all on one income (husband's)...my mom suggested that we apply for WIC (women infant children program) to get assistance with groceries, milk etc...my husband and i were outraged that she suggested it...we were like no way no how...we'll cut off premium cable and trim back in other things but will not apply for food stamps/government aid....lol...when I think about the credit card debt we wracked up those first two years and the pain the butt it was paying it off, I wonder why we were so hesitant? I mean, it was a legitimate, temporary need....but I don't know, I guess it was the stigma attached to it????
no I'm sorry saying welfare is Allah's way of providing risk is crazy. How is begging, something regarded as a huge sin in our religion, Allah's way of providing rizq?
Begging is not welfare, get your definitions in order.
I just want to clarify that parasites = those who abuse the system. There are those who make adjustments like khattichic did so why can't other people do the same. There are some who truly need help and they should be helped by the local community first (501c organizations since they are tax exempt) and then government should come in, if it needs to.
Moreover, if you are poor because you have too many kids, well perhaps it would have made sense to think about it before uploading/downloading one, if you can afford it or not. Yeah yeah, we know, rizq allah deta hai par banda khud bhi kuch karne bharne ke laik ho na.
I guess we can just agree to disagree then. To some it may not be seen as begging, but to others(like myself) it is. I think anytime you go to another person, wait on lines etc to receive handouts, yup... begging. It's the easy way out. You're not working and earning your food and unless you are dying of starvation and malnutrition or have absolutely no food at home and young kids to feed, I think it's unnecessary.
I cannot respect that there are people who go to the store and pick up tons of FREE FOOD while the rest of us work for what we have. I know many people in the community who have suffered through bad times due to the terrible economy and you know what? Most of us recognized there was a problem and helped them out of our own volition and good will. There was one family particularly down on their luck and the auntie started working in a local store as a cashier, many of us let her do odd jobs for us such as sewing and mending clothes, she and her children gave up their cell phones, cable, internet and the masjid had a fundraiser for them and other families where we collected money and donated food and clothes. No big deal. Go to your near and dear ones if it comes down to it but all this publicc assistance, I cant stand behind.
I remember when the twins were born, Ammar was not even 2 yrs old yet, I obviously was not working, and having just come out two very expensive rounds of IVF, we were facing crazy bills from the twins' NICU stay, coupled with now 3 kids in diapers at the same time, and the expensive preemie formula for the twins....all on one income (husband's)...my mom suggested that we apply for WIC (women infant children program) to get assistance with groceries, milk etc...my husband and i were outraged that she suggested it...we were like no way no how...we'll cut off premium cable and trim back in other things but will not apply for food stamps/government aid....lol...when I think about the credit card debt we wracked up those first two years and the pain the butt it was paying it off, I wonder why we were so hesitant? I mean, it was a legitimate, temporary need....but I don't know, I guess it was the stigma attached to it????
Yes - what you had was a temporary situation. Your husband, a white collar worker, was gainfully employed - so you knew you would come out of this in one piece. I am sure you will agree that situation is not similar to inner city situation for people living on projects - it is not an apples to apples comparison.
She gets so much because she keeps popping out one child after another and the government is left footing the bill. Mind boggling because if they’re so religious, then why are they making everything they’re consuming haram on them by cheating the system?