I defiantly agree with you. All though there are a few individuals who make the correct use of it, there are still a lot of people are abusing this system for unnecessary commodities. I really wish that people were more responsible with money that is given to them so they can have food on the table when they are in need. This could be a reason the American economy is so bad.

I agree with you as well, so many people abuse the system and the people who really do need the help are usually to ashamed to go and get it. My friend who I shall not name just got food stamps but he actually needed it, he's the only income in his household, he doesn't have cable, and he lives in a house with his mom where the electricity doesn't even work correctly. All of his money literally went to the bills, he may of had $20 to eat on for all week. He's doing so much better now that he got it, he has like $50 to spend a week and he's planning to move from his over priced house into a decent apartment. I hope things keep getting better for him and I hope things do get better for everyone who doesn't abuse this system. It's in place so people can help better themselves, not to become lazy and rely on it.

Sameel : Although it is true that there are some who do milk the system so to speak, I don’t believe it is an adequate reflection of those who are on government assistance. It goes without saying that not everyone milks the system. I am disabled and have been on government assistance. I am also a writer and do as much as I can to hopefully get a solid gig where I can make a decent living. It isn’t easy for some people to get a job because of things like physical limitations and or mental or emotional problems. Not to mention the economy.

I do agree with you however that those who do milk the system give others who need the help a bad name and it also makes it more difficult for those who do, do what their suppose to do because when ever there is a crackdown so to speak to limit and or get rid of those who milk the system, everyone suffers even if you’ve done nothing wrong. It can be frustrating but that’s a sign of the times we live in.

I don’t know if it’s an epidemic necessarily but I do think that it is a problem that needs to be adequately addressed not just during an election season where those who seek office look to further regulate or tighten regulations simply for political gains. In regard to the economy, well I am not one who feels that the government assistance programs are the problem, I think the financial system banks, and such did more damage to our economy than anything. All you need to do is look up Goldman Sacks and you’ll see variations of financial figures of how those who were in charge made millions and millions and even after being charged with fraud never faced any punishment hardly. Greed does more damage then anything. Unfortunately when things like that happen it’s the people who really need the help in general who only want to do the right things who suffer. There is the epidemic in my opinion.

Where does one go to find these people that abuse the welfare systems? I only know a couple people that have used welfare and have since improved their lives to the point where they no longer need governmental assistance. This is Canada mind you and I'm sure that the system here differs from that of the United States but I have my doubts that the abuse of government welfare programs is rampant enough to be a major problem.

If it is easy enough to distinguish who is abusing these systems because you can "see everyday people who are abusing the tax payers money" than I have an easy solution. The government should stop giving money and support to these people that clearly are abusing the system.

Sameel : I understood what you meant… However I stand by what I said I think it is a problem but not an epidemic. An epidemic is things like I said before the banks and lack of adequate accountability to those responsible for getting us as a country in the mess we’re in currently that’s an epidemic. I will take it a step further. Have you ever noticed how somehow with all the money and technology that is available that there remains no solid cures for diseases and that if some who are sick do get cured of something, they often leave the United States to do it? There is an epidemic that needs to be addressed. The problem is those who regulate profit off of those who are sick and suffering so it’s a catch 22 for them.

I know you didn’t mention SSI and I didn’t say that you did. What I was saying is that there are people who are on welfare and government assistance (Welfare is technically government assistance)who are doing what they’re suppose to do and who don’t milk the system. What I was trying to say is that for every one person who is milking the system there are probably hundreds of people who aren’t. As I said I do agree with you it is a problem that needs to be addressed and addressed adequately and not just during election season but it’s not an epidemic. If certain things aren’t done to adequately get the country back on it’s feet it may very well get to that point but I don’t feel that it is there yet and pray to God that it won’t get to that point.

Far as people who are on government assistance and welfare (And there are some who are on both.) Believe me when I tell you for many it’s not an enjoyable experience having to do those things just to survive. Like I said before although there are those who do milk the system, I don’t feel it is an adequate reflection of those who are on government assistance. For many they don’t have a choice.

I can understand where your coming from, I know it’s frustrating but remember it’s not just you that has to deal with it. Also whenever you get mad and say things out of frustration try putting yourself in the shoes of someone who has no choice. There are people out there who are at minimum very wrong for milking the system but there are those who don’t have a choice and need to do what they have to do to survive. I’m sure if you took a poll of people who are on welfare, who are on government assistance and asked them what their experience is like being on assistance I am willing to bet that almost anyone who you’d talk to would say that they don’t like it but they have to do what they have to do. It isn’t fun believe me.

If the economy improves and more jobs are added things will improve eventually. There are those who do apply for work on a regular basis but they can’t really do much if no one is hiring. Where I live for instance the unemployment rate is over 10% on a state level. There isn’t much you can do when the businesses and companies in your area aren’t hiring. Hopefully things improve and those businesses and companies will get tax incentives that will create jobs.

There are people that try to cheat the system. However, I would say it's quite the stretch to cite food stamps as the reason we are in a recession or a main culprit even. The government doesn't spend money on unemployment so it's not a distraction for them. Out of the millions of taxpayers in the country, maybe it costs them a few cents if anything. Consider that this is a recession. Once confidence returns, unemployment and food stamps will go down and more people will go back to work.

As someone trying to enter to workforce, I can attest to how hopeless it is to get in there. Plus, according to my friends, it's not much fun to look forward to.

I hope I'm not too late for this.

I believe welfare and food stamps, to a certain degree, are a source of the failing economy.

There are "bad eggs" who take an unfair use of the income checks, they typically get to where they are at buy wasting money on drugs and not looking for jobs; these people, I believe, are the "leeches" that Romney referred  to.

Then, there are "momentarily misplaced upper-class citizens" who don't want to accept the checks because they strongly believe they are fine on their own without the checks. Not much I can say about these people.

Finally, the "crap hit the fan" lower-class citizens. As I suggested, they were not ready for crap hitting the fan. They need these checks to get by, like my family. Internet is not a necessity, but I sure love having it. Same logic applies in my mothers beliefs. She doesn't use welfare checks to buy Internet, she uses her own money for that. She uses food stamps and welfare checks to do what they are meant for; food and necessities.

Lesson; there are bad eggs, proud eggs, and good eggs, each have their own place in time and roll in life; regardless of position they are important contributions to society, even if we don't like it.

I think if you have things like nice cars, tv subscriptions or internet you arent prioritising financialy or dont need the stamps.
I also think too many people make the assumption that if you get free food you wont try to find work.
The media likes to blow things out of proportion, it makes for better ratings.
It is also a favoured tool of many centre right supporters. If it was that cleaar cut it would have been scrapped long ago.

One of my best friends is on Welfare and food stamps, and while she does need it, I feel she is way too comfortable with being on government aid.

She does not seem to really care to improve herself and get off government aid because she has a mental disease as her excuse to not bother. I am not saying that she SHOULD NOT be on disability, social security, food stamps and medicaid, as she currently needs it. I just really dislike her attitude on not bothering to try and better herself. This is a type of thing that really irks me when it comes to people on these government programs.

I really am glad my best friend can get such aid in her time of need, but she only makes these really half-hearted attempts at bettering herself, and even if she does get better, I do not believe she will get off these programs. I think she won't bother finding a job cause she can live JUST well enough on all her aid. I cannot say any of this to her even as a few other friends have already tried, and she just refuses to listen.

Sorry if I ranted a bit on my friend, but it helps demonstrate my feelings on the subject, with the short of it being the system is necessary, but very flawed.

I work part-time in a grocery store and I see the system abused everyday. The majority of people who use food stamps (in my store) buy expensive meats, lobster, tons of soda and candy. I think, overall, the safety net system we have in place is good. At the same time, though, our country has fallen into a warped, entitlement way of thinking. They think everything should be handed to them in lieu of the fact that they are simply themselves and deserve it. I was raised to work hard and appreciate what I have. Thus, what bothers me most is not the fact that food stamps and welfare exist (I know a TON of people who desperately need assistance because their crappy employers refuse to pay a liveable wage). What bothers me is the sense of entitlement that some have developed.

devinlv17 : I think you misunderstood exactly what was meant by this topic.
From what I've read, these post imply that there are people who abuse the welfare system..

You should consider re-reading my post on here, where I explain the three types of lower-class citizens, explaining that there are those who do abuse the system, those who don't care about the system, and those who actually need the system.

Good eggs, bad eggs, proud eggs.

"Single-parent family" is not a rare thing; in many, many cases, including my own, there is an absence of one parent. It makes no child special in any way, it simply means they have one parent.

"...Lived in a car for years..." Once again, not a rare thing. With a failing economy, there are more and more instances of homelessness. We blame not those who need welfare checks to get by, we blame those who abuse the welfare checks to get luxury.
Shelter, food, water are necessities. Internet, television, and alcoholic beverages are luxuries.

People abuse the welfare system for luxuries, while others, like yourself and I, use it for necessities.
The difference between the two is those who use it for necessities have humility, and understand that welfare is useful. Those who use it for luxuries have yet to study up on history, economy, and debt.

Those who abuse the system only push the U.S further into crap.
Those who need the system take, and at least attempt to give.

1) While there are many people who abuse this system, the majority actually use it properly.
2) Many people on Welfare are actually working, but can only get crappy paying part time jobs that don't pay them enough to live on.
3) Because they are spending the money, it is not exactly hurting the economy, because the money is being spent. Would it be better if they were working and spending the money? Yes, but it still isn't hurting the economy compared to if they were not getting the money and spending absolutely nothing. That is a basic principle of economics.

I worked as a cashier at a grocery store. I saw people every day that used foodstamps and WIC checks... most of the people with the EBT card tried to conceal that they were using it because they were ashamed. The people with the WIC checks couldn't hide as much, but most didn't like using them either. The problem was the people that used it proudly (the Welfare Queens, if you will)... but at the same time, a lot of the people that I saw using those EBT cards were elderly people who didn't get enough from their retirement checks and Social Security.

I think one thing that might actually help curtail the abuse of the foodstamp system would be if they regulated what you could get with it like they do with the WIC checks (you can only buy stuff wheat bread, healthy cheese, real juice, fruit and veggies, etc). Don't allow the purchase of soda or candy or stuff like that.

How about all the rich people there who dont want to pay taxes? I am sure they abuse the system even more, especialy if you want to think of your tax dollars.