Ok….so can we now quit with the ‘those other people need to work’?  Can we quit with the stereotypes?  The welfare law is clear.

 Of course there are more people on food stamps under President Obama. He inherited a depression! This country was shedding 700,000 jobs per month the day he walked into office---The banks were insolvent, housing was collapsing and the auto industry was bankrupt......AND the GOP has done nothing to try to help since then. Their only objectives have been to make Obama a one term president and pass regulations on a woman’s body.

 The GOP had ten years of tax cuts to make things better. Where ARE all those jobs that tax cuts produce?? It was like an outrageous party where all the big shots got drunk on greed and excess.....and then ended up puking all over everything! Does NO ONE remember what was happening in this country when President Obama took over?

 Ok, call me a bleeding heart…..but I have witnessed soul crushing poverty. When I worked for Parkland Hospital (Dallas)….these folks were some of my patients. They weren’t low-lifes, drug lords….or whatever. They were desperate, sad women….old people that were skinny and truly hungry….and many mentally impaired......sick and beaten down. Of course there are 'some' that game the system….but that can and should be fixed.  But to lose sight of the bigger picture is like throwing the baby out with the bath water.  There is profound suffering and need in this country.

I thought “We the People”…. means ALL of us…not just those with money and good fortune. I thought we were in this together!! I thought this was supposed to be a Christian nation??? Those people on the margins are the ones Christianity supposedly cares the most about. Would you give Christ a cracker if he walked today? What is this loathing all about? Ok…maybe loathing is too strong of a word…..let me say “indifference”.

It just seems to me that this call to selfishness is antithetical…. to the Gospel values of compassion and love.  It seems that self interest is taking the place of a higher power.

Ok….so can we now quit with the ‘those other people need to work’?  Can we quit with the stereotypes?  The welfare law is clear.

 Of course there are more people on food stamps under President Obama. He inherited a depression! This country was shedding 700,000 jobs per month the day he walked into office---The banks were insolvent, housing was collapsing and the auto industry was bankrupt......AND the GOP has done nothing to try to help since then. Their only objectives have been to make Obama a one term president and pass regulations on a woman’s body.

 The GOP had ten years of tax cuts to make things better. Where ARE all those jobs that tax cuts produce?? It was like an outrageous party where all the big shots got drunk on greed and excess.....and then ended up puking all over everything! Does NO ONE remember what was happening in this country when President Obama took over?

 Ok, call me a bleeding heart…..but I have witnessed soul crushing poverty. When I worked for Parkland Hospital (Dallas)….these folks were some of my patients. They weren’t low-lifes, drug lords….or whatever. They were desperate, sad women….old people that were skinny and truly hungry….and many mentally impaired......sick and beaten down. Of course there are 'some' that game the system….but that can and should be fixed.  But to lose sight of the bigger picture is like throwing the baby out with the bath water.  There is profound suffering and need in this country.

I thought “We the People”…. means ALL of us…not just those with money and good fortune. I thought we were in this together!! I thought this was supposed to be a Christian nation??? Those people on the margins are the ones Christianity supposedly cares the most about. Would you give Christ a cracker if he walked today? What is this loathing all about? Ok…maybe loathing is too strong of a word…..let me say “indifference”.

It just seems to me that this call to selfishness is antithetical…. to the Gospel values of compassion and love.  It seems that self interest is taking the place of a higher power.

I agree with your thoughts that a person who pays tax on income of (say) $60,000 should not pay a higher income tax percentage as a person making (say) $1,000,000. Saying that, however, I do think this disparity stems from our present tax code because of its complicated form. If we simplified the tax code, and yes a flat tax could provide this option, then we would basically eliminate a large portion of tax avoidance measures that only the wealthy are able to use. It is the tax avoidance measures that have a wealthy tax payer paying less than the average income taxpayer. Raising the percentage for wealthy earners will only led to less tax because they will find new loop holes or move their money to a more tax friendly country.

I agree with your thoughts that a person who pays tax on income of (say) $60,000 should not pay a higher income tax percentage as a person making (say) $1,000,000. Saying that, however, I do think this disparity stems from our present tax code because of its complicated form. If we simplified the tax code, and yes a flat tax could provide this option, then we would basically eliminate a large portion of tax avoidance measures that only the wealthy are able to use. It is the tax avoidance measures that have a wealthy tax payer paying less than the average income taxpayer. Raising the percentage for wealthy earners will only led to less tax because they will find new loop holes or move their money to a more tax friendly country.

How do you know the flat tax will not work? I believe that it can work. I lived in a country that functioned without an income tax quite successfully. The consumption tax seems to be very equitable. Not all goods had the same amount of “consumption” (Duty) tax added. For instance basic food had little tax added but junk food had more. Boats had a huge tax as well as new cars. This seemed to be a fair method because the more you earned the more you consumed thus the higher your taxes paid.
 

How do you know the flat tax will not work? I believe that it can work. I lived in a country that functioned without an income tax quite successfully. The consumption tax seems to be very equitable. Not all goods had the same amount of “consumption” (Duty) tax added. For instance basic food had little tax added but junk food had more. Boats had a huge tax as well as new cars. This seemed to be a fair method because the more you earned the more you consumed thus the higher your taxes paid.
 

Federally funded and governed US welfare began in the 1930's during the Great Depression. The US government responded to the overwhelming number of families and individuals in need of aid by creating a welfare program that would give assistance to those who had little or no income.

The US welfare system stayed in the hands of the federal government for the next sixty-one years. Many Americans were unhappy with the welfare system, claiming that individuals were abusing the welfare program by not applying for jobs, having more children just to get more aid, and staying unmarried so as to qualify for greater benefits. Welfare system reform became a hot topic in the1990's. Bill Clinton was elected as President with the intention of reforming the federally run US Welfare program. In 1996 the Republican Congress passed a reform law signed by President Clinton that gave the control of the welfare system back to the states.

Eligibility for a Welfare program depends on numerous factors. Eligibility is determined using gross and net income, size of the family, and any crisis situation such as medical emergencies, pregnancy, homelessness or unemployment. A case worker is assigned to those applying for aid. They will gather all the necessary information to determine the amount and type of benefits that an individual is eligible for.

The Federal government provides assistance through TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). TANF is a grant given to each state to run their own welfare program. To help overcome the former problem of unemployment due to reliance on the welfare system, the TANF grant requires that all recipients of welfare aid must find work within two years of receiving aid, including single parents who are required to work at least 30 hours per week opposed to 35 or 55 required by two parent families. Failure to comply with work requirements could result in loss of benefits.
 

Federally funded and governed US welfare began in the 1930's during the Great Depression. The US government responded to the overwhelming number of families and individuals in need of aid by creating a welfare program that would give assistance to those who had little or no income.

The US welfare system stayed in the hands of the federal government for the next sixty-one years. Many Americans were unhappy with the welfare system, claiming that individuals were abusing the welfare program by not applying for jobs, having more children just to get more aid, and staying unmarried so as to qualify for greater benefits. Welfare system reform became a hot topic in the1990's. Bill Clinton was elected as President with the intention of reforming the federally run US Welfare program. In 1996 the Republican Congress passed a reform law signed by President Clinton that gave the control of the welfare system back to the states.

Eligibility Requirements for State Welfare Program

Eligibility for a Welfare program depends on numerous factors. Eligibility is determined using gross and net income, size of the family, and any crisis situation such as medical emergencies, pregnancy, homelessness or unemployment. A case worker is assigned to those applying for aid. They will gather all the necessary information to determine the amount and type of benefits that an individual is eligible for.

The Federal government provides assistance through TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families). TANF is a grant given to each state to run their own welfare program. To help overcome the former problem of unemployment due to reliance on the welfare system, the TANF grant requires that all recipients of welfare aid must find work within two years of receiving aid, including single parents who are required to work at least 30 hours per week opposed to 35 or 55 required by two parent families. Failure to comply with work requirements could result in loss of benefits.
 

V~  Taken from South Brooklyn Legal Services website.  (This is New York State’s requirements re: Welfare)

Welfare recipients are required to do “work activities” for a certain number of hours per week to receive benefits.

What Are Work Activities and How Many Hours Must I Work?

Most people will be required to work 35 hours a week. However, no one can be assigned more than 40 hours a week.

Single parents must work at least 30 hours per week, with the first 20 hours from any of the following activities:

• Employment


• Work experience program (WEP)


• Job placement by the Human Resources Administration (HRA)


• On-the-job training


• Job search (for up to 6 weeks)


• Community service


• Vocational educational training (for up to 12 months)


• Providing child care to someone doing community service.

·         Additional hours of work can be other assigned activities.

For 2-parent families, one or both parents must do at least 35 hours per week of work activities. If the family receives child care benefits, the family must do at least 55 hours of work activities. Parents may divide these hours as they wish.

Adults in families with no dependent children must work 35 hours per week, with the first 30 hours from the following activities:

• Employment


• Work experience program (WEP)


• On-the-job training

Do I Get To Choose the Kind of Work I Am Assigned to Do?

If you have dependent children, HRA is required to assess your education, skills, work experience, training and vocational interests. HRA is required to write up an “employability plan” indicating your assigned work activities and an employment goal that reflects your preferences if possible. If your preferences cannot be met, the plan should say why. The work you are assigned to should be consistent with your employment goal and preferences, if such work is available.

HRA may assign you to work activities even before it completes the assessment. The assessment must be completed within 90 days of the date you were found eligible for welfare.

V~  Taken from South Brooklyn Legal Services website.  (This is New York State’s requirements re: Welfare)

Welfare recipients are required to do “work activities” for a certain number of hours per week to receive benefits.

What Are Work Activities and How Many Hours Must I Work?

Most people will be required to work 35 hours a week. However, no one can be assigned more than 40 hours a week.

Single parents must work at least 30 hours per week, with the first 20 hours from any of the following activities:

• Employment
  
• Work experience program (WEP)
  
• Job placement by the Human Resources Administration (HRA)
  
• On-the-job training
  
• Job search (for up to 6 weeks)
  
• Community service
  
• Vocational educational training (for up to 12 months)
  
• Providing child care to someone doing community service.
  

·         Additional hours of work can be other assigned activities.

For 2-parent families, one or both parents must do at least 35 hours per week of work activities. If the family receives child care benefits, the family must do at least 55 hours of work activities. Parents may divide these hours as they wish.

Adults in families with no dependent children must work 35 hours per week, with the first 30 hours from the following activities:

• Employment
  
• Work experience program (WEP)
  
• On-the-job training
  

Do I Get To Choose the Kind of Work I Am Assigned to Do?

If you have dependent children, HRA is required to assess your education, skills, work experience, training and vocational interests. HRA is required to write up an “employability plan” indicating your assigned work activities and an employment goal that reflects your preferences if possible. If your preferences cannot be met, the plan should say why. The work you are assigned to should be consistent with your employment goal and preferences, if such work is available.

HRA may assign you to work activities even before it completes the assessment. The assessment must be completed within 90 days of the date you were found eligible for welfare.