"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

 there aren't enough jobs to go around, haven't you heard?

i'd rather accidentally fund a million welfare abusers if it meant helping one honest family but what do i know, i care about human beings

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

I'm all for helping individuals - BUT GOVT SHOULD NOT BE IN THAT JOB!! Just like govt shouldn't be in the job of providing medical insurance, funding for the arts, and a slew of other things.

Non-profit organizations, churches, and other organizations should be stepping up to do that so that govt doesn't have to. I know with regards to local churches, there's more and more movement within the church to help out in this area.

when govt gets involved, there's too much corruption, too many political agendas at play that have nothing to do with actually helping people.

However, right now, I am more concerned with the ridiculous spending the US just signed up for that will do very little for the current economy. The stimulus bill is just a huge laundry list of things that will have very little impact on the current economic issues. Welfare checks is a small amount compared to the 800 billion we just signed off on.

Oh and now they want to fix the housing mess - which should've been first on the list which is what helped get us into this mess.

Oh, and BTW, if govt wants to stay in the business of welfare checks, then they should require these individuals (IF THEY ARE ABLE TO WORK) to work within govt buildings - or work at non-profits who are willing to help out. If we are in the business of subsidising, let's subsidise daycare for families who need it so we can get these individuals into jobs. THAT may actually be the better way of doing this. Anyone without kids that are able-bodied should be working and parents can be day care subsidies.

Jordan .

I did a story about studies done by the CDC (and other federal programs) to qualify government funded clinics for more aid. There studies linked tobacco use and cancers related obesity (lifestyle choices) to poverty. The studies concluded that more programs and public education for the poor would save the country money paid to treat advanced cancer (in the obese and in smokers) in the long run.

In gathering opinions (and an overwhelming amount of conflicting scientific research that says obesity is NOT related to cancer) I interviewed a doctor/professor who says that research like this is an expression of classism and consumer anxiety. (eg. a middle class housewife who feels guilty about the gas she puts in her SUV can blame a fat Mexican woman for her unhealthy excesses, displacing the negative feelings.)  And these biased "findings" are a way to pad government healthcare expenses to give better treatment, while you're paying for insurance, pffft! (Even the term "obesity" and the speculative relationship between BMI and poor health is debatable, and really comes down to cosmetic prejudices.)

The poor are entitled to the only stress relief they can access, which might be drugs, smokes and greasy food, whereas the middle and upper classes can afford other luxuries, like vacations, therapy, and gym memberships.  Is sitting on your ass in front of Springer and smoking pot more indulgent? Who's to say?

In other words, drug tests would just mean more government funding. It won't stop unhealthy lifestyle choices, because they're caused by economic disparity. So punishing these choices helps the situation for these individuals as little as rewarding them (with welfare or free medical care.) All of it is bad for the economy.

The answer isn't socialized everything and massive redistribution of wealth, nor is it this quick-fix joke of a stimulus plan.  I say let them eat and smoke themselves to death or OD in the streets. But that's because I'm evil.

Back in my day labor years while I was hitching, I met lots of folks who were proud as hell to sell their food stamps for cash so they could buy meth or a carton of cigs (or a blowjob from a street whore, in one case.)

Being poor is not humiliating when you only socialize with other poor people, according to the rules of normative behavior. 

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

Obama has been pushing faith-based initiatives but I wasn't clear whether that was included in the stimulus, originally included but dropped by the devil-heathen baby-eating democrats in congress, or part of future legislation.  anybody know?  

Remember how we weren't supposed to use terms like 'uncivilized' or 'primitive' because those were deemed derogatory?  Seems to me that PC language edict should work both ways.  Otherwise some might find themselves fabricating a personal narrative of the poor oppressed self living within the evil ruling class constricts unable to make do.  This is a narrative of a loser.  A deserved loser, I might add.

Now, welfare.  I can't say if I've ever really personally known anyone who was a welfare recipient.  Maybe I have and just wasn't aware of it.  I can say I've known many (especially now) who have had hard times over the course of my lifetime.   In that category have fallen both my own father and my own father-in-law, neither of whom were high school graduates.  Neither of whom EVER took any government funds.  Both of whom died with substantial estates. 

Welfare is a subscription to a lifetime habit of poverty.  Humiliation from being a recipient is probably a worthwhile sentiment and I believe that in itself might propel one through the out door more rapidly.  

Having said all that, I wouldn't want another bureaucracy to be the Urine Police.  

Susan

PS  From Wikipedia 'ruling class' (which comes from Marxist --- zzzzzzzyawnzzzzzzzzz--- theory)

In Marxist political economics, the ruling class refers to that segment or class of society that has the most economic and -- only in second line -- political power. Under capitalism, the ruling class -- the capitalists or bourgeoisie -- consists of those who own and control the means of production and thus are able to dominate and exploit the working class, getting them to labor enough to produce surplus-value, the basis for profits, interest, and rent (property income). This property income can be used to accumulate more power, to extend class domination further. The economic power of a class gives it extraordinary political power so that state or government policies almost always reflect the perceived interests of that class.

Ruling classes tend to be looked at in a negative light because they are often viewed as having little respect or care about the rights of the inferior classes. (who are they????)

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

LOL!! I was wondering when someone would mention that Obama is pushing faith-based initiatives? I'm still waiting for the people who criticized Bush for it to also criticize Obama, but it's been pretty quiet there. :-)

To answer your question, I don't know. I haven't heard of any initiatives like that, and since "Obama's stimulus plan" is actually Congress' plan, I doubt it. What Obama originally proposed looks nothing like what we have now. Pelosi and Company threw it in the trash and basically started their own. Which is Big Mistake #1 for Obama. He should've controlled the whole thing instead of allowing Congress to run "hog"-wild with our money by putting in so many pet initiatives.

It really threw me when I heard that the tax cut the average American will receive with the stimulus is $13/week!!!! WOW!! Way to stimulate that economy and make people feel like they are keeping more of their own hard-earned dollars so that maybe, just maybe, we will increase our spending again and get this economy back on track.

Jordan .

extremely priviledged person doesn't understand class struggle, zzzzzzyawnzzzzzzzzzz

fine though, fine. why do we give people food stamps instead of money then if not as a punishment for (assumably) being wildly irresponsible with money, not just being the victims of unfortunate circumstances?  

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

 ah yes, medieval days, when people who weren't too busy getting the plague or going on crusades or undergoing a witch hunt bandied together to provide food stamps to those less fortunate

what in god's name are you talking about

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

I've also been waiting for the people who think Bush was a good president and think Obama is a communist to give him credit for something (aww snap!) :)

   I think part of the reason the left hasn't been in as much of an uproar over this is legitimately this is not the biggest news story of the day- O's first month has been pretty busy, and there's been plenty else to criticize him over no matter what your leanings.  Also, as I understand it, he was pushing for stronger restrictions on who could get money from this, particularly re: prosteletyzing (sp), so rational lefties who see the value and importance of the social services run by religious organizations could feel better about the gov't supporting them without worrying as much about it meaning the government was actually advocating a particular religious point of view. 

  I'm no economist, but I'm pretty sure the point of the stimulus is not only to give people a check, and I think everyone agrees that this one bill is not going to be the only solution needed.  I'm not totally happy with the bill either, but I do agree with Obama that "the perfect should not be the enemy of the essential"  The play for bipartisanship hopefully will pay off in the future but I don't see it now.  The GOP in Washington (not in the states though, lol) really are just disgusting in their attempts to be a noble opposition, and the dems were pretty spineless in not going stronger for what they needed (jobs and infrastructure).

 [edit: I always feel like a tool when I type out some long message and then see it follows a couple funny one-liners from booth or nefud or coolsprings...  ]

"Harry, I'm going to let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. Like this."  -Dale Cooper

I don't see the relevance of faith-based initiatives, but, sweet white jesus.  Is the government going to start regulating my bowel movements for me?!?  Of course the lefties don't want the faith separate from the guv'ment.   They don't want it separate from anything!

I'll keep my fingers crossed for the new admin to pass a poop bill, because the perfect shouldn't be separate from the essential.... whatever that means... and, hey, it will be like taxing food twice!  Maybe the money raised can be given to those who don't poop as much.