Before sending in my absentee ballot

[DoesntMatter]

Holy shit. I am genuinely shocked that someone on this site even KNOWS that the New Testament exists

Anyways I've said it plenty of times, I'm not a good Christian at all. However, I DO defend it from people saying it's BAD, because THAT is a HUGE crock of bullshit from hate-mongering pseudo-intellectuals. There is no hypocrisy there

[DoesntMatter]

But as to charity organizations, food and shelter should be the only constitutes of that. Everything above and beyond a persons food and shelter should be earned by the individual

So when you consider that there are very few Americans in dire need of food, you wonder why how much it should cost to fund these charities. It should be very little

[IndiReloaded]

Huh, this is topical. I was just talking to an aboriginal psychologist last week. She was telling me that the welfare system is absolutely destroying ppls work ethic. The problem, as she describes it, is that many starting wage jobs do not pay high enough (or as well as welfare) to cover the bills. Why work your ass off for less than you can get popping babies & sitting at home?

We discussed whether it isn't better to cut welfare & use that money to supplement low-wage jobs. This kind of system exists for students working summer jobs, so why not for low-income ppl? This way, work ethic is more directly tied to wages.

BTW, it is my impression that Senator Obama is very open to new ideas and ways of doing things. I think, in this way, he might be one of the most accessible presidents you'll ever know. So why don't you simply send him your ideas about how to *improve* things, DM? Instead of just bitching about the status quo.

[Mish]

But as to charity organizations, food and shelter should be the only constitutes of that. Everything above and beyond a persons food and shelter should be earned by the individual

So when you consider that there are very few Americans in dire need of food, you wonder why how much it should cost to fund these charities. It should be very little

What about learning programs? Teaching the poor how to make life better for themselves? You mention shelter, but is it actually provided to the poor for free? (A genuine question, I don't know) What about work programs designed to put the poor back into the workforce?

I think once you start breaking down existing welfare programs (or additions that could make existing programs better) you will find there are a lot of components to them.

[lesa]

BTW, it is my impression that Senator Obama is very open to new ideas and ways of doing things. I think, in this way, he might be one of the most accessible presidents you'll ever know.

That's the main reason why I voted for Obama. I get that same impression of him.

[vashti]

You mention shelter, but is it actually provided to the poor for free?

Why should it be?

I don't favor giving anything to anyone for free unless they are under 18, severely mentally ill, or senile.

[Mish]

Why should it be?

I don't favor giving anything to anyone for free unless they are under 18, severely mentally ill, or senile.

Vash, I said it due to DM's earlier post

But as to charity organizations, food and shelter should be the only constitutes of that. Everything above and beyond a persons food and shelter should be earned by the individual

Please read it in that context

[vashti]

I don't really have a problem with that particular aspect of DM's post.

[misombra]

medicaid and social security make up the majority of "welfare" benefits.

[DoesntMatter]

I fuccking HATE social security. Getting rid of that would be fantastic

[misombra]

you say that because you're a teenager.

[DoesntMatter]

No, I say that because I can manage my own money and savings better than the government can. I don't need or want the government handling my money like I'm a fuccking 5 year old

Social security is just another method of income redistribution. People who worked and made their own money paying for the retirement of those who didn't save. FUCCCKKKKKK THHAAAATTTTTTTTTTTT

[vashti]

You should work for Los Angeles County. They did away with social security withholdings years ago.

[misombra]

No, I say that because I can manage my own money and savings better than the government can. I don't need or want the government handling my money like I'm a fuccking 5 year old

Social security is just another method of income redistribution. People who worked and made their own money paying for the retirement of those who didn't save. FUCCCKKKKKK THHAAAATTTTTTTTTTTT

actually you and your friends are paying for people to have social security right now.

i understand where you're coming from, but we need welfare to keep our economy moving. yes there are people who mooch but there are people who need it. plus there are people going hungry in the u.s. maybe not your part, but come to where i live and i'll take you to places that look like poor parts of mexico.

also some people simply cannot afford to save for retirement and our spending their money on survival right now.

[Mish]

Social security is just another method of income redistribution. People who worked and made their own money paying for the retirement of those who didn't save. FUCCCKKKKKK THHAAAATTTTTTTTTTTT

See, this is what I don't understand. Where this lack of charity comes from. How can you call yourself Christian and at the same time be so against helping the poor (almost the entire premise of Christianity)? This double standard blows my mind.





Do you ever ask yourself, what would Jesus do?