How do you feel about people on government assistence? (page 2)

Legolas

Here on the island some need it, most do NOT.

They are either able to work but won't or they are working under the table!

i'm posting from a country with *nearly* full employment, basically anyone who wants a job can get one. no one in my hall is without work, none of my neighbours are, and people that i go to uni with all work. Our system works thusly- when you get a wage, your boss pays PRSI stamps on your behalf and then after 3 months you start paying them aswell (this is basically government credit). These can be used for a number of things, primarily if you lose your job or you quit, you can claim "dole" from the government. When you are employed, these stamps take money off your dental bills etc. This really came into its own when a brother in our hall was in a bike crash coming back from work. He had paid his stamps, he couldn't work for months so the government not only gave him his salary, but also paid his hospital bill (which is only 800 euro maximum here anyway). The system here works when you need it to. some people take advantage of it, but if you want to work, you can. so the vast majority of people do. however i will say this, "god bless social-state europe" , esp ireland :-)

willowmoon

If the government offers a program, the people using it shouldn't be judged or blamed. The government determines eligibility and should be monitoring use and looking for abuse as well. Everyone still has a right to use the programs the government offers, especially if they pay the taxes that help support the programs.

I know JWs who use government assistance to support themselves so they can preach full time, have seen elders encourage it. What I don't understand is how accepting money from the government's programs is okay, yet getting paid for performing an honest working service for a government agency is considered a sin for 'supporting this system' against God's wishes and in total conflict with the organization's rules????

It seems like a double standard to me........

willow

Funchback

I have a problem with wealthy people who file for bankruptcy. At least the laws are a little tougher now.

Mary

One thing that infuriates me above all else are when immigrants get more in government assistance than what I do working full time. There's a reason why Cana-duh is known as The Welfare Country. The second you step off the boat, you're given free housing, free medical coverage, free dental, money for your "cultural" organizations, free everything. After all, we have to appear to be "politically correct" in every aspect right?

Sad emo

walkaway:

basically anyone who wants a job can get one.

Sorry, I just don't buy that! First you need the right skills and/or qualifications to do a job. Second, some potential employers don't help matters by offering only minimum hourly rates (which in the UK at least is below the 'minimum living level' suggested by many poverty action organisations) for work which really deserves better pay. Others demand long hours, while at the other extreme some offer only part-time hours because part-time workers have fewer employment rights. Sometimes the 'pay' is better on Government benefits - and so the cycle begins...

Would you seriously take any job you could get? No matter how low paid it is?

All that said, yes I agree that there are still some people who are merely out to milk the system and they make me mad!

DanTheMan

I understand that J.K. Rowlings was "on the dole" for a while. I think that a person in her circumstances should pay it back, a few times over even :)

Sad emo

lol DanTheMan!

She probably is paying it back now. The amount of money she's raking in will mean she's on higher rate income tax (that is unless she's putting it all into 'offshore investments' )

wanderlustguy

Would you seriously take any job you could get? No matter how low paid it is?

If you're baing carried by the system then you need to get your butt to work doing something, because guess what, the people that WILL do the jobs you are too good for are carrying you on their back.

<------ Was on assistance, took 3 jobs and got off it.

sixsixsixtynine

I would like to mention, that some do need it and use it to move to a level where they no longer need it. That is not the majority, by any means or warped way of looking at it

Yes, the system is broken. Largely because of attitudes like yours.

Why are people in this ridiculously wealthy nation, so obsessed with someone getting a "free ride"?

Is a life on welfare really something to envy?

Other countries accept the fact that there will always be those that take advantage of the system.

But, rather than dwelling on those people, they try to focus their energies on those that really do need help.

Oh, and I'm sure JK Rowling has paid back thousands of times over(in taxes) any assistance she received. Gimme a break.

How do you feel about people on government assistence?

Share this